From one man-made disaster to another… here come the floods

From one man-made disaster to another… here come the floods Meidyatama Suryodiningrat ; Chief editor of The Jakarta Post

                                               JAKARTA POST, 22 November 2015

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                           

As haze blanketed many parts of Southeast Asia, the nation a few weeks ago was praying for a divine downpour of rain. Now people expect the worse each time the clouds gather dark. Yes, it is that time of the year again. A time to complain, question and suffer on account of our own stupidity. In the last fortnight, many Jakartans had a taste of what was, and what will be again in the coming three months. Just a half-day of rains and water up to the knees in a city submerged in chaos. Memories of dread recollect floods of recent memory. In the first week of January 1996, incessant rain flooded the city. A month later three days of rain, about five times the normal downpour nearly sank Jakarta. More than 500 homes were swept away, as tens of thousands had to take temporary shelter elsewhere. Then in 2007 more than half the city was inundated in the first week of February. A ceaseless day of rain combined with very poor drainage and reduced waterways gave Jakarta no chance in facing the deluge. There were at least 80 flood-related deaths within a 10-day period. Losses were estimated to run above Rp 4 trillion (then US$439.56 million). Five years later, also in the month of February, then Jakarta governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo faced his biggest test as the capital was left paralyzed. Strategic areas were shut down when the sluice gates of the Cipinang River broke, flooding Central Jakarta. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that the peak of rainy season will again occur late January through February. There is almost an expectation that things may get bad. The only question is, how bad? With MRT construction taking place all over the city, there is reason to fear the worse. Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said in late 2014 that the revitalization of Jakarta’s waterways and rivers would be complete by 2016. But most recently, due to various complications in the field, he has backtracked, saying that projects, such as the one at the Ciliwung River, will not be completed by 2017. Nevertheless, there is more ground to be hopeful. The work on the canals should help mitigate potential disaster. There also seems to be better anticipation and coordination now between relevant agencies, not just in the capital but across the country. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has allocated Rp 150 billion ($11 million) for flood and landslide prevention and mitigation efforts in the upcoming rainy season. And a national action plan on floods and landslides has also been put into effect. These are, of course, the minimum that should be done. These sort of disasters are classified as “slow onset”, which can be predicted, even if not always prevented. Some 274 regencies, covering over 40 million people, have been placed in medium to high potential for landslides or floods. Flooding in the capital itself is not a new phenomenon. A major flood occurred in then Batavia, for example in 1618 during the reign of Dutch governor Jan Pieterszoon Coen. The floods prompted him to construct many of the drainage being used today. In its origin, Batavia was constructed on swamp and low-lying land, hence it should not be a surprise that flooding has become a regular occurrence. Jakarta Bay is also a release for major waterways. During high tide, there is no where for the flowing water to go except back inland. These are, of course, all challenges that are solvable, but have not been and actually exacerbated by our own negligence. The depth and width of Jakarta’s waterways has actually shrunk due to poor management, garbage and slum housing on their banks. The city produces over 7,000 tons of garbage daily, about the size of four soccer fields. Much of that goes into the rivers. About 24 tons of trash is collected at the Manggarai sluice gates daily. The sedimentation has reduced the depth of rivers, while the average width of rivers running across the city is now at just 5 meters. Krukut River, for example, is now just half the 10 meters it originally began with. It is no secret that unceasing construction is causing Jakarta to sink further. It is estimated that the city has the highest rate of depreciation, sinking 5 centimeters annually. Jakarta’s main drainage system is only now beginning to get a serious 21st century makeover. Much of the construction dates back to the days of the Dutch colonial governor. The current capacity of accommodating about 50-60 millimeters of rainfall per hour is far below the minimum required 80 mm for a city like Jakarta. These are all problems residents have known for a long time. And our culture of indiscipline is also something we have continued to foster rather than shed. In the end, may of the problems we face are those of our own doing. This is likely something we can blame on nature. Hopefully society has reached a tipping point where it realizes the need for change. In the meantime, keep those umbrellas high and try to keep your socks dry. ●