TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The contender for Jakarta's Gubernatorial Seat from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Sandiaga Uno, said that affected residents should not point their blame to current Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama for the floods that inundated Kemang in South Jakarta on Saturday evening, August 27, 2016. According to Uno, everybody has a part to play in when it comes to the capital's perennial flooding issue.
"You cannot blame Ahok - this is all our responsibility. I am calling on all residents to take an active part in dealing with Jakarta's flooding issue," said Uno in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Sunday August 28, 2016.
According to Uno, the flooding that occurred on Jl. Kemang Raya is caused by Kali Krukut, which breached its' banks as its' course are obstructed by improperly disposed garbage and sedimentation. "We want everyone to be involved in Jakarta's management - when everyone disposes of their garbage properly, none of this would have happened," he said.
Uno said a trash bank would be an effective way of dealing with Jakarta's garbage issue, as residents could easily collect and re-purpose garbage into something of a commercial value from the designated trash bank. "Another man's trash is another man's treasure - this is a paradigm shift that needs to be exacted," he said.
Meanwhile, to address the sedimentation issue, Uno has called on the government to deploy heavy machineries to normalise the depth of Kali Krukut and rid of it from its' sedimentation. "At present, the heavy machineries are only used to tear down houses near the banks to construct an inspection road," he said. "If it can tear down houses, it could deal with muddy sediments."
The torrential rain that showered over Jakarta on Saturday evening, August 27, 2016 has caused inundation on Jl. Kemang Raya, which saw flooding of up to 70 centimetres. Similar conditions were seen along Jl. Antasari Raya, South Jakarta.
ABDUL AZIS
