"We have several plans and stages of work that we are going to do soon. And for this, I need the support of all sides," Jokowi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) explained his flood solution plans to the leadership of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on Monday.

First he met with MPR Chairman Taufiq Kiemas before he was received by House Speaker Maruki Alie and Chairman of the DPD Irman Gusman.

To the leaderships of the MPR, DPR, and DPD, Jokowi explained the efforts that had been taken by the Jakarta regional government to overcome last week`s flooding in Jakarta.

On the occasion, the Jakarta governor also explained his solution concept to resolve flood problems in mid and long terms.

Jokowi said his government had pumped flood waters in a number of seriously affected areas and disposed of the water into the sea.

The regional government also provided logistics assistance to the victims such as clothing, food, inflatable boats and tents.

"To overcome the floods, the regional government of Jakarta also had coordination with the relevant parties such as the military, police, national search and rescue agency and other related bodies," he noted.

He said that logistics stocks for the victims were more than enough, although the number of evacuees sharply increased from 19,000 on Wednesday to 64,000 on Sunday.

The difficulties faced by the regional government included the fact that not all locations of the floods could be accessed easily.

Governor Jokowi also stressed that efforts to solve the flood problems in Jakarta needed to be supported by all sides.

"The flood problem could not be solved by the Jakarta government but it needs the support of others," he said.

Therefore, the governor said, he was consulting with the MPR, DPR and DPD, so that the flood problem could be coped with immediately.

"We have several plans and stages of work that we are going to do soon. And for this, I need the support of all sides," Jokowi said.

He said that there were at least six programs that would be carried out shortly, among others, the acceleration of the normalization of the Ciliwung, Pesangrahan, Angke and Sunter rivers.

The other immediate efforts are to build a spillway linking the Ciliwung river with the East Flood Canal, and to construct two dams the in Ciawi and Cimanggis areas.

"We will also produce as many as possible catchment wells along the upstream to downstream areas, and build a high capacity multipurpose tunnel," he said.

Besides, water pumps would also be built in Ancol, North Jakarta, he said. "The large scale pumps are expected to reduce water pools and floods," he said.

Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Taufiq Kiemas meanwhile appealed to all parties to cooperate in handling floods in Jakarta.

"We hope that we all should cooperate in tackling the flood problems. It is impossible for Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo to work alone, we should provide mutual help," Taufiq said.

Taufiq said that the flood problems could not be solved by the Jakarta governor and his Deputy Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alone.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013