Flood Remains, Basuki Apologized to Jakarta Citizens

Jakarta Governor, Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama asked for citizen's pardon for not been able to eliminate flooding in Jakarta for now.

In fact, we should apologize for not been able to handle flood in Jakarta. We have done the hard work even it still not maximal. At least, we know a lot of flooded areas are now receding rapidly

"In fact, we should apologize for not been able to handle flood in Jakarta. We have done the hard work even it still not maximal. At least, we know a lot of flooded areas are now receding rapidly," said Basuki at City Hall, Tuesday (2/10).

He admitted, the government still cannot overcome flood in east and west side area. Moreover, Jakarta also experienced land subsidence as Mr. Jusuf Kalla message, so we need to use the pump to divert water to the sea.

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"We also begin to realize all of Mr. Jusuf Kalla messages about land subsidence. So, if we want to drain flood, we should use pump at the river edge," he added.

The former Regent of East Belitung also asked the Electric State Company (PLN) to give a special treatment for Pluit reservoir.

"I had asked the Electric State Company Director to treat Pluit reservoir as in the State Palace to always turn on the electricity at reservoir," told Basuki.

He mentioned, Pluit Reservoir could hold up to 1.5 million cubic meters of water. Moreover, the palace will not be flooded if the pump continues to function.

"The palace may not submerged during the water level in Pluit Reservoir still at 0 cm. Yesterday, the pump was turned off and the rain continues to fall so the palace submerged," he explained.

As known, as many as 7 of 9 pumps were turned off for more than 2 hours. As a result, the water level reached 125 centimeter at 3 pm, last Monday (2/9). Fortunately, the water not overflows to citizen's settlement.

"We get information from Pluit Reservoir officers when the pump off for two hours. So the water cannot be pumped into the ocean, and the water level reached 125 centimeters, Said Bambang Surya Putra, Information and Management Head of Jakarta Disaster Management.

He said, the water level occurs because there is no electricity in the reservoir at the time, so that only two pumps can be operated.

According to Putra, the water level on Pluit Reservoir ever reached 250 cm in 2013, with the level that much, the water overflow to surrounding area as Pluit Urban Village, Penjaringan Urban Village, and Pasar Ikan.