The Jakarta Post of Thursday, April 30, announced the government's road to a flood-free Jakarta in 2025. It linked this promise to officials and their consultants. We wish to rectify this message with the sobering conclusion that Jakarta will never be completely free from floods. Responsible government agencies will be the first to confirm this.

At times, draconic measures are considered such as high dikes along the coast, removing obstructing roads, extending canals and converting vast housing, office and industrial areas into natural retention areas. These proactive and retro spatial planning measures are expensive, complex, impopular and will not happen overnight. Even if some of these projects come true, Jakarta would still have to stay ready for the next flood. What can be done is to reduce, not to remove, the flood risks and damages and make Jakarta a safer (aman) place to live in. That is what the government's road map is all about. No dreams but feasible targets.

The roadmap makers agree that flood management should be inspired by bold spatial planning that takes Jakarta's position as a river delta city seriously. The article in the Post provides a sneak preview of what this broader strategy will look like. It also creates the (second) wrong perception that the government is fully in charge to protect Jakarta citizens. It is high time to realize that citizens are not only victims but also part of the problem.

There is so much, individuals, communities and project developers can and should do to reduce flood risks and damages: Keep neighborhood drains running, avoid dumping waste in rivers and canals, proper sanitation to prevent drains becoming open sewers, settlement away from river banks, provide rain water retention areas in estates and even small gardens, keep valuables protected and know how early warning systems work.

Living in Jakarta means living with floods. It means to be always prepared and, in the near future, to be willing to pay for extra protection and appreciate tougher law enforcement against those who increase the flood risks.

Roy Timmer

Team Leader

Jakarta Flood Management Team

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