Residents and road users are complaining about the puddle on Jalan Raya Kalibaru Barat, Kalibaru Urban Village, Cilincing Sub-District, North Jakarta. They are worried the puddle would spread diseases aside the rotten smell it caused. This condition has been going on since January.

The water color is green and spreads rotten smell. We also worry it would become a place for mosquito breeding

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, the road is covered with puddle for almost as long as 100 meters and 5-10 centimeters high. Not far from that road, there is a residential area of RW 08 Kalibaru.

Handi (25), a resident of RT 07/08 Kalibaru, said the puddle has existed since rainy season last year. Although rainfall intensity has begun to decrease, the puddle remains and never receded. “ The water color is green and spreads rotten smell. We also worry it would become a place for mosquito breeding ,” he lamented, Sunday (5/18).

Responding on this matter, Head of Cilincing Sub-District, Wawan Budi Rohman, admitted that his party has reported this matter to North Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department in last mid-April. “Indeed, the residential is prone to puddle. Nevertheless, I have reported this matter to related unit for further follow up,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Head of North Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department, Wagiman Silalahi, explained that the puddle is caused by illegal buildings stood atop the drainage along Jalan Raya Kalibaru Barat. As a result, the drainage becomes malfunctioned. “Indeed, we need to do revitalization there. Most of the micro channels are blocked by buildings,” he told.

To conduct the revitalization, Silalahi continued, his sub-department is still waiting for the project of Priok Toll Access (ATP) finished. The work will be carried out by building pump near Kresek River as an estuary of drainages in Semper Barat, Semper Timur, and Kalibaru urban villages, Cilincing Sub-District. “There will be no more puddle when the pump has finished being built. For now, we’ll try to repair the drainage. Hopefully the revitalization could finish in 2016,” he expressed.