3,810 Graves in Kapuk Teko Cemetery Inundated Again

After a week of receding, water again inundates Kapuk Teko Public Cemetery (TPU), RW 01, Kapuk Urban Village, Cengkareng Sub-District, West Jakarta, which commonly called Kampung Apung. As a result, the process of graves relocation that has been obstructed for 24 years, threatened to be delayed. The heirs choose to wait for the water as high as 50 centimeters in the cemetery to recede again.

The water re-inundating the cemetery comes from the seepage of waterway located in the left side of Jalan Kapuk Raya, which currently being repaired

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, the impact of the re-inundated cemetery has made hundreds of gravestones that had been seen a few days ago are covered again by water. It is estimated that the relocation of 3,810 graves, which has been planned by West Jakarta Administration that would be completed at the end of upcoming August, to be delayed.

“ The water re-inundating the cemetery comes from the seepage of waterway located in the left side of Jalan Kapuk Raya, which is currently being repaired . Please West Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department to siphon the water, not immediately left after dried it a week ago. This is because the water seepage from the waterway is the responsibility of that unit,” said Kasmuri (60), a local, Monday (5/26).

Graves in Kapuk Teko Cemetery to Be Relocated

Responding that, Head of Flood Control Facilities and Infrastructures Maintenance Section for West Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department, Amir T Pangaribuan, denied being said his party did not responsible for last week’s post-siphoning process.

“According to our duty, the graves have been dried. The graves should have been relocated immediately or else they would be inundated again given the amount of mud in that cemetery,” he stated.

Meanwhile, West Jakarta Deputy Mayor, M Yuliadi, explained that his party will still relocate thousands of graves in Kapuk Teko Cemetery in accordance with the provision. The relocation will be done in two ways.

First, the heirs to register and the graves will be relocated gradually. This also applies to the heirs who want to move the graves by themselves, but surely after coordinating with West Jakarta Administration. Second, if no one acknowledged the graves until registration deadline on upcoming June 2 to August 4, West Jakarta Administration will relocate the graves en mass.

“Of course, we also seek for approval from the Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB), because the buried ones here are Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims. It is done in order not to violate the religious regulations,” he uttered.

Adding to it, Head of West Jakarta Cemeteries Sub-Department, M Yuswardi, informed that the relocation of 3,810 graves in Kapuk Teko Cemetery is still waiting for the budget amendment.