West Sumatra Flood Handling Targeted To Be Completed In Two Weeks To Return To Normal

JAKARTA The cleaning and repair of connectivity on Jalan Raya Padang-Painan, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra Province (West Sumatra) is targeted to be completely completed and return to normal in the next two weeks after the flood disaster.

"I was assigned by the President to take steps to deal with flood disasters in West Sumatra. The Ministry of PUPR is responsible for restoring public infrastructure, especially roads and clean water," said Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono Basuki, in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 12.

Currently, the West Sumatra Cross from Bengkulu - Painan to Padang has opened and can be passed by 4-wheeled vehicles, but the avalanche material and the affected residents' houses are still in the cleaning stage.

Basuki also said that of the 12 districts affected by the flood, according to information from the Governor of West Sumatra, there were five who were severe and the worst were in Pesisir Selatan Regency.

"In this route, the main thing is that there is a vital Pertamina object, which cannot be cut off its distribution chain to other regencies/cities, including Bayur Padang Bayur Port and the transportation of CPO from Bengkulu. For that I ask that in this week all the roads affected by landslides are clean," said Minister Basuki.

Then for the handling of landslides on the riverbank that eroded the national road, Minister Basuki said he had assigned the West Sumatra National Road Implementation Center together with existing contractors to carry out handling by installing a cliff retaining wall (sheetpile).

"Especially at points prone to landslides, they can be handled in the next two weeks. Damaged roads will also be paved again soon, so that within two weeks the regional conditions will be clean and normal again," said Minister Basuki.

The PUPR Ministry conducted an investigation on 8 suspension bridges in Pesisir Selatan Regency that were damaged by the flood. "We will survey the suspension bridge, whether it needs to be replaced because it is heavily damaged or can be repaired. Meanwhile, the handling of damaged houses is still waiting for the results of data collection from BNPB," said Basuki.

To fulfill the need for clean water for residents affected by the disaster, the Minister of PUPR instructed the Sumatra V River Basin Center (BWS) and the West Sumatra Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) to immediately prepare a drilling well for residents' clean water. In addition, to help the Pesisir Selatan Regency Government restore the condition of the Painan City clean water network service from the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM).

For information, Basuki Hadimuljono accompanied by the Governor of West Sumatra Mahyeldi Ansharullah and the Regent of Pesisir Selatan Rusma Yul Anwar reviewed the post-disaster flood handling in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra Province.