This is a comment on The Jakarta Post’s editorial titled “Irresponsible Jakartans” (The Post, Jan. 17, p. 6). It is simple role. If you don’t want to be flooded - don’t build on the flood plain!

Jakarta is where it is. The Post is right to sheet home the responsibility to its true cause.  Every new construction, every new car park, every piece of road and paving creates hard surfaces that amplify the flooding effect by increasing the rate of runoff to levels that overload the already overstressed infrastructure.

There are some “soft engineering” approaches that could be attempted to increase the rate of infiltration to slow and store this runoff, but ultimately drain maintenance and construction may be the only short-term practical solution.

The residents of all Indonesia’s cities could do a great civil duty by not throwing rubbish in the street. Out of sight may be out of mind - until the complaints start: “Why did my house flood?” Partly because you or someone you know threw a plastic bag into the drain that finally blocked it.

There is little point the public complaining about the last-minute preparations of city councils when they have to spend precious resources needlessly cleaning/fixing a problem that need not have occurred in the first place!

Never mind the other environmental consequences of the mountain of rubbish that finds it way to the sea – which, given the Indonesian love of fish, should give pause for thought.

Civic leaders have a duty to educate the public about the consequences of littering. Perhaps if imams spent just a fraction of the time they spend lecturing us on other topics, something of real and tangible benefit to the public could be achieved?

SHANE PERRYMAN

Jakarta

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