The Consequences of Half-Hearted Management of Jabodetabek Floods

Spatial planning in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi is far from effective. Land conversion and the lack of green open spaces for water absorption make this agglomeration area prone to flooding.

Without the utilization and control of spatial planning, floods will continue to overshadow the lives of residents, as occurred in early March 2025. Heavy rains in the upstream area of Bogor, West Java, caused flooding from river overflows.

Water flowing from upstream also inundates downstream areas in Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The situation worsens due to local rainfall in the downstream regions.

Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, in the Puncak area, Bogor, on Thursday (6/3/2025), stated that land conversion is occurring extensively in the upstream area of the Ciliwung River Basin (DAS). In 2010, the 15,000-hectare Ciliwung River Basin was designated as a protected area, national park, production forest area, and water body.

Only 500 hectares of that area were designated as residential zones. However, in 2022, there was a land-use change of 8,000 hectares designated as agricultural zones in the Ciliwung River Basin.

This agricultural area has recently transformed into residential zones, recreational sites, and lodging facilities. As a result, damage has occurred, triggering downstream flooding due to the disruption of the Ciliwung watershed's characteristics in channeling water directly and swiftly during heavy rainfall.

Previously, during his visit to the flood control infrastructure at the Bekasi Weir and Ciliwung Diversion Channel on Wednesday (5/3/2025), Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo called for active participation from local governments, particularly in land preparation and waste management.

The readiness of land is required to ensure that the embankment and river normalization projects proceed according to the targeted timeline. This is because the project involves not only technical aspects but also administrative ones, namely land acquisition.

Until now, the construction of the embankment in Kali Bekasi has only reached 13.8 km of the total requirement of 33 km. Meanwhile, the normalization of the Ciliwung River has only been realized 17 km of the target of 33 km.

The problem of garbage also deserves attention. If rivers and waterways are filled with garbage, the flood control system will not be optimal because it is clogged.

In general, there are two floods in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek). Senior researcher at the Center for Regional Planning and Development Studies, IPB University, Ernan Rustiadi, calls them highland and lowland floods.

Highland floods are often called flash floods. This occurs due to blockages in the upstream or upper areas due to landslides.

"When the blockage breaks, it causes flash floods, like in Kampung Pensiunan. These flash floods keep happening, especially when it rains like now," said Ernan on Friday (7/3/2025).

Kampung Pensiunan is located in Tugu Selatan Village, Bogor. This area was devastated by flooding in early March.

Ernan said, usually rain for five days in the upstream area will have an impact on the rising water in the Katulampa Dam. This rising water often results in flooding in the downstream area.

"That's the phenomenon upstream. One of the impacts is flooding from Puncak to the lowlands," said Ernan.

Apart from flash floods, other problems in the lowlands include poor drainage, lowering groundwater levels, and limited green open spaces.

Ernan gave an example of the flood that paralyzed Jabodetabek in early 2020. This flood was a combination of extreme rain in Halim Perdanakusuma and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta, land subsidence so that the tide blocked the flow of water to the sea, and lack of water absorption.

There are 21 watersheds in Jabodetabek and not all of them have their source in Puncak, Bogor. Therefore, the management of this watershed is a shared responsibility.

At that time, data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) showed that rainfall intensity above 150 mm per day occurred at several rain observation stations. In fact, rainfall intensity at Halim Perdanakusuma reached 377 mm per day or the highest record in 150 years of recording.

Meanwhile, in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) it was recorded as reaching 335.2 mm, Jatiasih 259.6 mm, Teluk Pucung 234.6 mm, Tomang 225.6 mm, South Tangerang 208.9 mm, Manggarai 189 mm, Ciputat 184 mm, Rorotan 172 mm, and Ragunan 155 mm.

The various situations above show the importance of controlling and utilizing space. Not just planning, as has been the case so far.

So far, the government has issued many regulations. However, the implementation is still limited to planning so that spatial planning is not appropriate.

Starting from Presidential Regulation Number 13 of 1963 concerning the Regulation of New Development along the Jakarta-Bogor-Puncak-Cianjur Road, outside the Boundaries of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta-Raya, the Autonomous Region of Level II Bogor and the Autonomous Region of Level II Cianjur; and Presidential Instruction Number 13 of 1976 concerning the Development of the Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi (Jabotabek) Region.

Presidential Decree Number 48 of 1983 concerning Special Handling of Spatial Planning and Order and Control of Development in the Puncak Tourism Area and the Jakarta-Bogor-Puncak-Cianjur Road Area Outside the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Bogor City, Depok Administrative City, Cianjur City and Cibinong City and Presidential Decree Number 114 of 1999 concerning Spatial Planning of the Bogor-Puncak-Cianjur Area.

Until the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 54 of 2008 concerning Spatial Planning for the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak, Cianjur Areas; and Presidential Regulation Number 60 of 2020 concerning Spatial Planning for the Urban Areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak, and Cianjur.

Ernan said, there are 21 DAS in Jabodetabek and not all of them have their source in Puncak, Bogor. Therefore, the management of this DAS is a shared responsibility.

"Now there is a momentum for a new government, new leadership to strengthen cooperation. It cannot be half-hearted, after the flood is over everyone will take care of their respective regions," said Ernan.

According to Ernan, now it can no longer be just coordination between districts/cities, provinces, and the center. It should be with the existing rules that cooperation automatically runs or does not depend on the commitment of regional leaders.

That is, one watershed from upstream to downstream makes control and utilization of space. The results are for the common interest or not just one area.

"Jakarta is very strong fiscally, but if there is no commitment then it is useless. The center must also play a role, but in the past it has not worked hard to strengthen relations. Hopefully the current leadership will move and hopefully be consistent. Don't appear at a time like this (flood) and then not prepare anything," said Ernan.