West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi Reveals Flash Floods Due To Land Function Transfer

JAKARTA - West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said the cause of flooding in Bandung was due to massive land conversion. According to him, the rice fields, swamps and lakes are almost no longer left in the Bandung city area.

This was conveyed after an audience with the KPK Coordination and Supervision Division (Corruption) at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, December 11.

"The land to dredge it is taken from where? From other places. As a result, other areas have experienced a decline in the surface, while the elite area has risen. When the rain arrives, the victims are areas where the surface drops," said Dedi.

He explained that the construction of residential areas and elite complexes in the highlands mostly dredged land from lower areas. As a result, Bandung residents were affected by the flood.

The majority of residents affected by flooding in Bandung live in watersheds (DAS) such as the Citarum River Basin (BBWS) and PSDA. Currently, the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of West Java is starting to take relocation steps for residents in the flood-prone area.

"Now a contract place has been prepared for one year for the relocated residents. After that, we will carry out land acquisition," said Dedi.

The Gerindra Party politician said the land that was acquired would be used to widen the river, increase water infiltration rooms, and build new reservoirs. He is optimistic that these efforts will make West Java not a flood subscription every year.

"Long-term solutions are needed through restructuring the area and controlling land conversion," concluded Dedi.