Jakarta Government through Bappeda affirmed that river normalization activities will continue as a part which integrated with flood control program in Jakarta and will not be removed from RPJMD Amendments 2017-2022.

River normalization activities will continue as a part which integrated with flood control program in Jakarta and will not be removed from RPJMD Amendments 2017-2022

Jakarta Bappeda Head, Nasruddin Djoko Surjono explained that river normalization activities are still listed at Chapter IV. It is also in line with joint agreement for Action Plans to Overcome Flood and Landslide in Jabodetabekpunjur 2020-2024, where PUPR Ministry will carry out flood control construction in rivers within the authority of Central Government and Regional Government to support land acquisition at river locations where construction will be carried out.

"In fact, Jakarta Government has been carrying out land acquisition in rivers which support normalization project carried out by Central Government. In 2020, Jakarta Government has been working on land acquisition process in Ciliwung River, Pesanggrahan River, Sunter River, and Jatikramat River that worth around Rp 340 billion. While construction in Angke River is carried out in this year. In 2021, budget around Rp 1.073 trillion has been allocated for land acquisition in those rivers and several reservoirs in flood control system," he conveyed as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release, Wednesday (2/10).

According to him, Jakarta Government didn't dichotomize the river normalization and naturalization in controlling flood in Jakarta. Both are still carried out in integrated manner through intensive collaboration with Central Government.

"In principle, naturalization and normalization concepts can be carried out synergistically to achieve optimal goals. Both are efforts to revitalize rivers, canals, reservoirs, lakes, and macro channels in order to maintain water bodies' capacity according to the needs for optimal functioning. It includes reforestation on the banks of water bodies, dredging and deepening the water bodies, and plastering the water bodies," he stated.

He also mentioned that RPJMD Amendment is still on the process of discussion/dialogue between Executive and Legislature, which means it is still open for inputs in its refinement.