Governor Pramono Anung officially inaugurated the Cilangkap Batu Licin Reservoir in East Jakarta on Monday (1/12) morning. This facility is designed as a strategic dual-purpose facility: a critical flood mitigation tool and a sustainable green space for the public.

"I have decided to rename this facility the Cilangkap Batu Licin Reservoir starting today," he expressed, Monday (1/12).

It is built to handle a significant 6.51-square-kilometer catchment area, providing much-needed relief to the surrounding flood-prone neighborhoods.

Pramono noted that the new facility has successfully put a lid on the chronic flooding that used to plague Cilangkap.

"In the past, rain like this was a recipe for disaster because we had no way to soak it up or store it. It was a foregone conclusion that we’d see flooding. But with this 92,000-cubic-meter capacity, we have finally turned the tide on the problem," he explained.

Beyond its role in flood mitigation, the reservoir doubles as an inclusive community hub, complete with all the bells and whistles, including a jogging track, basketball court, and a prayer room.

He is banking on this project to be a real shot in the arm for the local neighborhood. It is part of a larger full-court press by the Jakarta government, which is readying a total of nine reservoirs to bolster the city’s water storage capacity.

The city's strategy covers all the bases geographically: besides Cilangkap Batu Licin, four reservoirs are located in East Jakarta, with two more each in South and West Jakarta to round out the defense.

“The reason behind this push is simple: it addresses the root of the localized flooding we see in these spots,” he noted.

Even as the city expands its reservoir network, Pramono made it clear that river restoration is still priority number one. He vowed to stay the course on normalizing the Sunter, Ciliwung, and Krukut rivers to protect the capital.

He also gave credit where credit is due, praising the Water Resources Agency (SDA) for going the extra mile to anticipate and mitigate flood risks as the wet season hits its stride.