TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and Assessment and Application of Technology Agency (BPPT) planned to modify the weather in a bid to reduce the high intensity of rain in Jakarta Greater Area or Jabodetabek.

BPPT head of weather modification technology unit, Tri Handoko Seto, said the weather modification technology will be carried out by dropping rain-bearing clouds coming to Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi in Sunda Strait, Lampung, and its neighboring areas.

“Our task is to drop the rain clouds so that rain intensity in Jabodetabek will be lowered significantly,” said Seto during a meeting on the coordination of floods at BNPB Office, East Jakarta, Thursday, January 2.

BPPT targeted a 30-50 percent reduction of rainfall that will shower Jakarta Greater Area. This is considered necessary given the current situation. “Many areas are inundated by flood. If heavy rain continues to fall, it will increase our burden,” Seto added.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy assistant of operation First Marshall Jorry Soleman Koloay said his side will mobilize two aircraft, Casa and CN 295, for the weather modification attempt tomorrow morning at the latest.

“We will prepare it this morning, and hopefully we can operate it this afternoon to check which areas suitable for the artificial rain. We’ll see the result from BPPT,” said Jorry.

HALIDA BUNGA