Agnes Anya, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration plans to investigate developers in upscale areas, including Kemang in South Jakarta, for allegedly contributing to worsening flooding there.
The environmental investigation follows suspicion that developers in the areas have violated construction permits and, hence, caused river constrictions.
Suspicion arose after plans were made to widen Krukut River, which flows along South Jakarta, to 5 meters due to dense housing and commercial area development.
"[Before widening the river,] we want to carry out an environmental audit to determine the causes of the flooding. It is not easy [to determine the causes]," said assistant to the governor for spatial planning and environment, Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa, on Monday.
For the inspection, the administration will cooperate with the Ciliwung-Cisadane Flood Control Office (BBWSCC) of the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry overseeing river-related issues in the capital.
Echoing Oswar, BBWSCC head Teuku Iskandar said his team and the city administration would widen Krukut River in a bid to restore the river's functions.
He said the teams planned to install concrete piles along the river "to restore productivity of the river."
He went on to say that river constriction had been a long-time concern of the ministry. However, it had yet to tackle the issue on account of dense development, which was unanticipated by the administration.
Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama reiterated on Tuesday that his administration had faced hurdles in land procurement, as most building owners along the riverbank held ownershipcertificates.
Nonetheless, he added, the teams would not be able to implement the measures if land on the riverbank had yet to be procured.
Moreover, most of them refuse to sell their land to the administration, Ahok said. "As they refuse, we will use a consignment system," Ahok added.
Under the consignment system, the procurement payments will be handled by the courts. The courts also have the authority to decide on the amount.
During the same occasion, Ahok said the administration had been forced to install sheet piles to mitigate flooding in the capital.
His statement, however, has been refuted by several environment and urban experts, including Nirwono Joga and Fatchy Muhammad. They said concrete walls would allow rainwater to run directly to the upstream area.
They suggest the administration focus more on constructing infiltration wells, water catchments and biopore holes to absorb water, which would be beneficial for residents in the dry season.
The widening of the river will take time, while heavy rains are expected to continue to pound the city. Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Denny Wahyu said on Monday that from August to early September, rains mostly poured in South Jakarta and East Jakarta.
According to a report from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the capital has been facing the La Nina cooling phenomenon since June, which causes high rainfall during the dry season.
"So, this wet dry season is expected to continue until the beginning of the rainy season. According to the BMKG, rainfall is expected to be higher than usual in the dry season, from August to October," Denny explained