Poor Planning Blamed For Indonesian Floods

"Several papers across Indonesia say that poor city management has exacerbated the flooding in Jakarta, where hundreds of thousands of people are now homeless."

"Some also blame the city's inhabitants for failing to keep the city clean, although one paper points out that the floods have also showed 'the strength and unity of Jakartans.'"

"And one daily argues that if Jakarta cannot avoid being flooded, then the capital must be relocated 'for the sake of the image of the nation.'"

"Environmentalists have blamed the flooding on years of bad city planning, which has led to building-work on green-field sites. That has caused more rain to run into the city's many rivers rather than soak into the ground, experts said."

"The flooding was probably made worse by drains blocked with rubbish."