"Yes, it is owing to the damage to the catchment areas. The rainwater catchment areas have been around for decades, so that is what we have to stop," the president remarked after inaugurating the Serang-Panimbang Section 1 Toll Road in Banten Province, Tuesday.
Jokowi noted that Kapuas River in West Kalimantan was overflowing owing to the damaged rainwater catchment areas, for which the government would focus on conducting repairs. "This is because the main problem is there," he pointed out.
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Starting next year, the government will conduct restorative work on the damaged catchment areas.
"There will be nurseries. Later, reforestation will be conducted in the upstream and rainwater catchment areas. We will repair the catchment areas," Jokowi, who holds a forestry degree from the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), stated.
Apart from damage in the catchment areas, another factor causing flooding was extreme rainfall over Kalimantan or Borneo Island, he remarked.
Over the last three weeks, flash floods had hit Sintang District, West Kalimantan Province, as Kapuas River had overflowed its banks.
Some 969 thousand hectares of watersheds in West Kalimantan were damaged and in a critical condition. Major damage was found in the river basin areas of Kapuas, which is the largest river in the country.
Some parts of Kalimantan Island, home to the country's tropical rainforests, had experienced major flooding over the last few years, especially in the South, West and East Kalimantan provinces.
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Translator: Rangga Jingga, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
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