TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During a campaign in Kalideres, West Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, Jakarta Gubernatorial candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama promised flood-free Jakarta in 2022 if he was to be reelected.
During the occasion, Ahok also inspected the flood anticipation project. Ahok believed that the target can be attained, provided that all levee constructions are completed.
"The number of areas prone to floods is decreasing after the dredging project commenced in 2013," Ahok claimed.
Ahok referred to Semenggol river as an example. According to Ahok, settlements around the river are now free of floods. Ahok said that he needed to visit residents living near the river to confirm the number of houses to be cleared to construct a road for inspection purposes.
Ahok pointed out that the river normalization plan sometimes does not take the real condition in the field into account, like that happened with Ciliwung River. Ahok revealed that Ciliwung River design involved sheet piles, while the natural aspect of several parts of the river could be maintained.
FRISKI RIANA