Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung personally inspected the Begog River segment of Cakung Lama River in Semper Timur, North Jakarta, Friday morning (1/23).

Following the site visit, Pramono outlined several strategic measures to mitigate flooding triggered by recent extreme weather.

He identified a severe bottleneck in the Cakung Lama River as the primary cause of persistent flooding in North Jakarta, particularly in Kelapa Gading, Sukapura, Cilincing, and Pegangsaan Dua.

"Having inspected the area personally, the bottleneck at Cakung Lama River is clear. It is the root cause of flooding for residents in Kelapa Gading and Cilincing," he expressed.

In response, he has instructed the Water Resources Agency to begin an urgent 2-kilometer river widening and dredging project. The administration is placing this project at the top of its agenda to ensure long-term flood relief for North Jakarta.

Pramono noted that while some residents had previously opposed the project, the reality of persistent flooding has led to a change of heart. Facing chronic inundation, the community has now shifted its stance to support the city’s efforts.

"The vast majority of residents are now willing and ready for the normalization to proceed," he explained.

At several points, the Cakung Lama River has shrunk to just two meters wide, a drastic decline from its original width of 15 to 20 meters. Expanding the river is now vital to ensure it can handle the massive water volume during peak rainfall.

"I have given my immediate approval. Next week, we will meet to finalize the normalization plan so that Kelapa Gading and surrounding areas are no longer impacted as they are now," he explained.

With heavy rain lingering over the past few days, new flood points have emerged in Jakarta. In response, the city is doubling down on its mitigation efforts by expanding its pump fleet and prioritizing river restoration.

The government is concentrating its resources on three major waterways: Cakung Lama River, Krukut River, and Ciliwung River.

"These are our three main areas of concentration," he closed.