T

he capital will have more reservoirs within the next few years, which are expected to reduce perennial flooding in the city.

Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo said on Tuesday that the city administration planned to build at least nine new reservoirs across the capital.

He unveiled the plan during an inspection at Marunda, Cilincing, North Jakarta, where a 56-hectare reservoir was being built.

Five excavators were removing mud from 36 hectares of the area when Jokowi and a number of high-ranking officials arrived.

'€œWe just started dredging to build the 56-hectare Marunda reservoir this month. The reservoir will accommodate water flowing from the KBT [East Flood Canal] and the Blencong River. When the water rises, we will pump it to the sea,'€ he told reporters at the site.

He said the city would also build a park and playground around the reservoir.

'€œWe will start building the facilities next year. It'€™s going to be like Pluit reservoir [North Jakarta]. In the meantime, we are focusing on the water-catchment aspect,'€ he said.

The city has acquired 36 hectares of the 56 hectares needed for the reservoir.

'€œWe will acquire the remaining 20 hectares this year. We expect to finalize payments to residents in April,'€ North Jakarta Mayor Heru Budi Hartono said.

The mayor pointed out that the land acquisition would affect 150 houses, some of which lacked deeds.

However, he said, '€œwe will still pay for them, but less than the actual land value,'€ he said, adding that the city had allocated Rp 115 billion (US$9.43 million) this year for the acquisition.

Marunda reservoir is one of nine new reservoirs the city administration plans to build in a bid to reduce annual flooding.

According to Jakarta Public Works Agency head Manggas Rudy Siahaan, at least nine new reservoirs with a combined size of 340 hectares would be built in stages within the next few years.

The reservoirs will be built in different locations, including in Rorotan, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), Sunter and Kamal in North Jakarta; Kamal in West Jakarta; Lebak Bulus and Brigif in South Jakarta; and Pondok Rangon in East Jakarta.

'€œAfter starting the construction of Marunda reservoir we will start that of Rorotan reservoir [in North Jakarta],'€ he said.

The planned reservoirs will add to 76 existing reservoirs and lakes across the capital, most of which are in a critical state due to a high level of sedimentation. '€œOf the total 76 existing reservoirs and lakes, we have dredged 12 reservoirs,'€ Manggas said.

The Jakarta administration also plans to acquire 107 hectares of land in Cipayung Datar and 24.8 hectares in Sukamahi, Bogor regency, while the Public Works Ministry will build reservoirs on the plots.

Efforts to expand water-catchment areas in Jakarta, however, are not without challenges.

Deputy Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said that the land price in PIK had surged to Rp 20 million per square meter.

'€œIf we aim to acquire 30 hectares, we have to prepare Rp 60 trillion. That'€™s almost our annual budget,'€ he said, adding that the city would prioritize other reservoirs first.