Surabaya to Build Four More Pumping Station to Control Flooding

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Surabaya city administration is planning to build four more pumping stations in Gunung Anyar, Ikan Mungsing, Kali Bokor, and Kalidami in anticipation of floods. \"Pumping stations are part of the administration\'s flood control programs. Every year, we build new pumping stations. Hopefully, four more pumping stations will secure the areas from flooding,\" head of the city public works, highway construction and maintenance and drainage Erna Purnawati said here on Monday. Constructing pumping stations capable of controlling rain and river water flows is the main solution to flooding in the capital of East Java province, she added. She revealed that the city administration will also buy 12 more units of heavy duty equipment to control floods. \"The heavy duty equipment will be used to dredge shallow river flows,\" she explained. The ongoing rainy season has resulted in the flooding of many cities in Indonesia. In Surabaya, floods hit Pakal subdistrict a few days ago. However, no considerable damages were reported. Floods caused by incessant heavy rains affected some 49 locations in Jakarta on Monday. Spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated that the municipalities of central, north, and west Jakarta were the worst hit. Floodwaters submerged several roads including MH Thamrin, Cempaka Baru, Ahmad Yani, Kwitang Raya, and Majapahit in Central Jakarta; Daan Mogot, Kedoya Raya, and Kapuk Raya in West Jakarta; DI Panjaitan, Pramuka, and Raya Bekasi in East Jakarta; Yos Sudarso, Kapuk Muara, and Boulevard Artha Gading in North Jakarta. Monday\'s floods also forced state-owned power company PLN to turn off 469 of its 17,000 relay stations, which supply electricity to Jakarta and its western outskirts of Tangerang. Numerous electric train services in the capital were brought to a standstill on Monday, following incessant overnight rainfall. In Tangerang, at least 400 houses in the Total Persada housing complex, Periuk, were flooded on Monday, while Ciledug area and the Puri Beta housing complex in Karang Tengah area were also inundated. The Tangerang disaster mitigation office has deployed 300 personnel to help evacuate flood victims, with the assistance of military and police personnel, and volunteers. In Bandarlampung, the capital of Lampung provice, several houses were flooded in Kalibalau village following incessant heavy rains since Sunday. (*) Reported by Abdul Hakim