Wonogiri, Central Java - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged all layers of Indonesian society to take good care of the country`s forests in order to prevent floods and landslides such as had happened in a number of regions lately.
"Thereby, we will be taking care of the Earth in a smart way," the President said in a dialog with local community members and officials here Saturday.
Wonogiri District Head Teguh Purnomosidi earlier reported to the President that recent flooding in the area had killed several people, swept away nine who were still missing until Saturday, and injured four others.
Some 1,750 houses, four school buildings and 30 bridges were damaged in the flooding, he said.
During his working visit to Wonogiri, the President was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakri, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa.
President Yudhoyono said in the dialog that floods were also reported happening in other countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
The floods were a consequence of hundreds of years of mismanagement and exploitation of forests, the president who therefore urged people to take care of forests and arid areas.
"We don`t need to blame the past. We now must take care and improve the conditions of our forests," he said.
The Wonogiri district head reported that the flooding was worsened by the fact that Gajah Mungkur Dam was not functioning. Responding to the district head`s report, the President said that he would hold a special meeting to discuss the Gajah Mungkur dam and the role of the local authorities in managing the dam.
"I want a special meeting as soon as possible," President Yudhoyono said when giving an instruction to Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, who was also present in the dialog.
Source: enews.mcot.net (31 Desember 2007)
