Normalization Of 120 Points In The Bekasi River Is Still Ongoing, Regent: Not Able To Overcome Floods

JAKARTA - The river normalization program launched by the Bekasi Regency Government (Pemkab) in West Java (West Java) has not been able to solve the problem of flooding as a whole in the area.

Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara Kunang explained that one of the reasons for the normalization of 120 points in the Bekasi Regency river has not been fully completed.

"The ongoing normalization efforts have not had a significant impact on flood management because in us, there are 120 normalization points, but all of them have not been completed," said Ade in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, Saturday, July 12, quoted by Antara.

High-intensity rain since early July 2025 has again caused heavy flooding in a number of areas of Bekasi Regency. A total of 29 villages were reported to have been flooded and 13,546 people were affected by the annual disaster.

The flood was caused by overflowing water from a number of rivers such as the Bekasi River, Cikarang River, Ciwekabang River, Ulu River and several irrigation canals in the area.

According to Ade, based on BPBD Bekasi Regency data, the most flooding occurred in residential areas. However, the facts on the ground show that residents' villages also do not escape flooding.

Such as in Babakan Village, North Tambun District, Kali Ulu Village, and Cibeber Village in North Cikarang District as well as a number of other areas. The conversion of land functions from rice fields and water absorption to housing and shophouses also exacerbated the situation.

"We as the government do not blame one and various parties, but we are still here to how to become a guard in the future for the community in tackling floods," he said.

Like the floods that occurred in North Tambun and Babelan Districts. Floods occurred on Jalan Raya Pisangan, North Tambun for two kilometers while Jalan Raya Kebalen, Babelan cut off access for residents to Bekasi City. The water level is reported to have reached more than 120 centimeters.

Several settlements around the Gabus River, such as Srimukti Village and Sriamur Village were also affected. "But the Gabus River, the times that we have normalized, and the buildings that we have arranged, have decreased flooding. So there are no more floods," he said.

Meanwhile, repeated flooding that occurred at Artera Hill Housing Serang Baru up to six times in the past year has also become a concern. Ade said he was evaluating the area's licensing.

"I'm discussing it. It's just that we're back in the basic context, the house that has children and has a wife, for example, we change licensing automatically, it's not allowed either. We'll see later," he said.