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illage and district chiefs and regents in West Java are required to have their cell phones activated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until May this year in line with the emergency-alert status set by Governor Ahmad Heryawan on Jan. 3.

West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Udjwalaprana Sigit said the decision was aimed at activating every agency involved in disaster mitigation so they could react quickly to major problems in their respective areas as soon as information arrived.

BPBD has set aside an on-call budget of Rp 15 billion (about US$1.7 million) for use in emergency mitigation situations, especially when there is a need for immediate funds.

“With these resources, there can no longer be any excuse for poor disaster management,” Udjwalaprana said in Bandung on Monday.

The emergency-alert status is focused on landslides and floods as the Meteorology, Geophysical and Climatology Agency (BMKG) has predicted severe weather over the next six months. The status was set after a coordinating meeting on Dec. 22 between BPBD, BMKG and organizations involved in disaster mitigation.

Based on West Java BPBD data, the five areas hardest hit by floods were Bandung city and regency and Subang, Karawang and Indramayu regencies. “In Bandung city and Bandung regency, floods occurred and receded quickly, but hundreds of homes are still flooded in the three other areas,” said Udjwalaprana.

Based on official West Java BPBD data, 645 disasters occurred last year, killing 50 people and injuring 312 others, causing estimated damage of more than Rp 136 billion.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said the natural disasters in West Java were categorized as ecological disasters resulting from deforestation and forest conversion, especially in conservation areas. West Java Walhi director Dadan Ramdan said the ecological crisis in West Java severely threatened the safety of more than 43 million lives.

“In 2011, 2,032 incidents in West Java led to the deaths of at least 120 people. In Bogor regency there were 332 incidents and 44 victims,” said Dadan, using different data.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono promised to provide a total of Rp 44 billion to the Surakarta municipal administration in Central Java to relocate flood victims of the massive floods in 2007. It has initiated the Bengawan Solo River relocation program since 2008.

“The assistance funds can come from reserves at the Public Works Ministry or the National Disaster Mitigation Agency,” Agung said after a meeting at the Loji Gandrung mayor’s residence on Sunday.

The Rp 44 billion assistance funds are intended for the 578 families who have land ownership titles but have not yet been relocated. They are located in seven Surakarta subdistricts — Joyontakan, Semanggi, Sangkrah, Gandekan, Sewu, Pasar Kliwon and Pucang Sawit.

Based on municipal data, 993 of the 1,571 residents affected by the massive floods in 2007 in Surakarta were willing to be relocated. Those who did not possess land titles were categorized as grant recipients because they occupied state property.

Each of them received Rp 20.5 million from the Surakarta municipality, Rp 8.5 million to compensate for buildings, with Rp 12 million to replace each plot of land. The grants were distributed in two stages, the first in 2011 (Rp 13.5 million) with the remaining funds being dispersed later this year.

While at Loji Gandrung, Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo said the relocation program was the answer to the problem of flooding affecting residents along the river over the past four years.

“This is a real and concrete solution,” said Joko.