'Canal construction almost done'

The Jakarta Post, Jakartac

The land acquisition process for the long-awaited East Flood Canal project is almost complete, despite ongoing disputes that have complicated the process, East Jakarta Mayor Koesnan Abdul Halim said.

"I am positive that if everything goes well, the construction of the canal will be completed this year," he told reporters Friday.

The East Flood Canal -- which will be 23.5 kilometers long and 100 meters wide -- is one way the administration plans to deal with annual floods in the capital.

The project was initially commenced in 1987 and was scheduled to be finished by 2007, but numerous delays and budget constraints had many authorities estimating the project would not be completed until 2009.

Between late 2006 and the end of 2007, more than 80 percent of the 18.3 hectares of land needed for the project was acquired by the city administration, according to data provided by the East Jakarta municipality office.

Koesnan said only 15 percent more land would be acquired this year.

However, the head of Indonesia's Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Selamet Daroyni doubted the credibility of the administration's statement.

"I personally don't believe it. They have probably only acquired 30 percent of what they need at the most," he said.

Selamet said many land disputes related to the acquisition process were still being settled in court, while many former residents were still waiting to receive payment for their land.

"I don't think the canal will see the light of day this year," Selamet said.

The administration has been involved in extensive legal disputes with land owners. According to city regulations, it is mandatory for land owners to willingly give up their land in such situations or else face sanctions.

Koesnan said he had ordered his staff to speed up the land acquisition process and the settlement of land disputes.

The East Flood Canal -- which will cut through several of the 13 rivers flowing through Jakarta towards the sea -- is expected to decrease flooding in the city by 80 percent.

It will pass through some 11 neighborhood units in East Jakarta and two in North Jakarta.

Floods have increased in size and frequency in Jakarta throughout the past decade, with large floods hitting the capital in 2002 and 2007. These floods claimed several lives and caused trillions of rupiah in damage.(anw)