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Ahok vows to repair Jakarta waterways to ease floods
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Incumbent Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama inspects a waterway in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, while visiting the area on Monday.
(JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
J
akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who is on obligatory leave for the gubernatorial election campaign period, says he will repair waterways across the city to ease the city’s flooding woes.
During his visit to Setu Babakan in South Jakarta on Monday, he said that south and east Jakarta were areas prone to flooding amid rapid development that neglected to leave space for waterways.
"South and east Jakarta area are facing big problems because many people want to build homes and apartments there without looking into required waterways design," Ahok said.
Ahok plans to expand waterways in those areas and develop retention basins.
According to him, the administration is constructing a dike to tackle flooding in the north of Jakarta as part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development mega project worth Rp 400 trillion (US$29.4 billion).
Ahok promised to free the city from flooding.
"I don't want [people] to say the flooding in Jakarta will subside in five hours. There shouldn't be any flooding at all as it can damage residents' properties," he said. (dmr)
