Accelerate Post-Disaster Huntap Development In Natuna Riau, Minister Basuki: Involve Affected Communities

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) continues to accelerate the handling of landslides that occurred in Serasan District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands Province. The landslide disaster that occurred in March 2023 caused damage to residents' houses and casualties.

PUPR Minister Basuki said priority in handling rehabilitation and reconstruction after the landslide disaster was the relocation of residential areas. The relocation is carried out through the construction of permanent housing (huntap) whose land is provided by the local government.

Huntap with special earthquake-resistant housing technology or called Home Simple Healthy Instant (RISHA) is targeted to be ready for use by the end of June 2023.

"Immediately mobilize 100 RISHA units from stocks in Palembang to huntap at the relocation point which has been prepared for land by the Natuna Regency Government which is safe from the risk of landslides. To speed up construction, involve affected communities in Serasan District," Minister Basuki said in a press release, Thursday, April 27.

Minister Basuki estimates that if the land is ready, the construction of the residential infrastructure can be completed within three months. This is because the knock down/resolved method of relatively fast components in establishing RISHA. The huntap location is also equipped with utilities, such as clean water networks, sanitation, and prayer rooms.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction in disaster-affected areas in the Natuna Islands not only rebuild damaged houses, but also build new settlements that are safer and more resilient to disasters (building back better). Relocations for 100 houses affected are important because they are in the red zone of high vulnerability to landslides.

Meanwhile, Director General of Housing Iwan Suprijanto said, currently, there are two complete RISHA units installed.

"Meanwhile, 53 units have been installed with river stone foundations, and one unit each has been installed with a reshuffle of RISHA and a light steel frame pair, and one unit has been installed with a brick wall, so that the progress is done," explained Iwan.

Iwan added that the work had started again since Wednesday, April 26, while waiting for RISHA's material release.

"Waiting for the mobilization of the Exca PC150 from the East Serasan, the work will start on Wednesday because there are still workers on the opposite island. The plan is that in early May there will be 50 additional workers from Java," he concluded.

Just so you know, before the huntap relocation program was implemented as a post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction stage, the Ministry of PUPR had also handled landslide emergency responses in Natuna by deploying heavy equipment to help evacuate, clean up mud, support facilities and infrastructure for refugees, as well as open up landslide-affected lanes.