he Public Works and Housing Ministry's flood control office has warned Jakarta to brace itself for floods during the upcoming rainy season, especially with 129 subdistricts in the capital considered as flood-prone areas.
The rainy season is expected to reach its peak in February 2019.
The head of the ministry's Ciliwung-Cisadane Flood Control Office (BBWSCC), Bambang Hidayah, said floods would likely occur in areas where rivers had yet to be restored, such as the Ciliwung River.
“The restoration of Ciliwung River is in limbo because of land disputes,” Bambang said on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.
Of the 33 kilometers of Ciliwung River the BBWSCC plans to restore, it has been able to complete 16 km so far because the Jakarta administration has not finished the land acquisition process.
Besides Ciliwung, other rivers in the city, such as Angke, Pesanggrahan, Krukut, the West Flood Canal, Sunter, Cipinang and Cengkareng Drain have yet to be restored, Bambang added.
Jakarta Water Management head Teguh Hendarwan said the land acquisition process for the river restoration program had experienced delays because the agency must first verify land ownership documents.
The National Land Agency must also check these documents before it can procure the land, and the process can be made more complicated should conflicts concerning family inheritance arise, he added. (cal)
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