The repair of the dykes to cost around Rp10 billion is expected to reduce the impact of flooding in the Indonesia's West Java city, head of the city highway construction and water system Tri Adhianto said here on Saturday.
"We decided to carry out repairs during the dry season. Work would be hampered if we do it in rainy days," Tri said.
The dykes are built in several places that have always been hit by flooding in rainy seasons.
The riverbanks in the city are crowded with residential houses such as in the complexes of Pondok Mitra Lestari, Pondok Gede Permai, and Telukpucung.
"Altogether there are around seven dykes to be repaired and reinforced before the next rainy seasons," he said.
He blamed the flooding in Bekasi partly on rapid process of urbanization in the upstream areas in Sentul.
He said Bekasi would continued to be under the threat of flooding every year unless urbanization is curbed in the upstream areas including Cileungsi and Cikeas , Bogor.
Hilly areas in Sentul , formerly covered by forests have now lined with villa houses and other commercial buildings leaving little empty space to hold rain water, he said.
(SYS//H-ASG/H-YH)
Editor: Suryanto
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