Together with PTPN IV, the Government Starts Building Permanent Housing for Batang Toru Flood Victims

JAKARTA - The construction of permanent housing (huntap) for flood victims in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra is now entering the initial phase. By partnering with PTPN IV, the Government officially laid the first stone of the groundbreaking in Hapesong Baru Village, Batang Toru.

This groundbreaking is a new phase of handling post-flood disaster after a flash flood hit the area at the end of November. The first new placement was carried out by the central government, the North Sumatra Provincial Government, the Tapsel Regency Government, and PTPN IV PalmCo which provided land support and supporting facilities.

The central and regional governments emphasize that the development of temporary housing and temporary housing (huntara) should be fast and on time, considering that some residents have been homeless for almost a month.

Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, emphasized that the development of huntap would be rushed and coordinated across ministries, local governments, and SOEs. He emphasized the president's instructions that disaster handling be accelerated and targeted.

"The state is present, the President is deploying all its strength, coordination, and finances. We are compact in helping our people. Let's work quickly, faster than usual," said Maruarar in his statement, Wednesday, December 24.

The directive is said to be a mandate so that the technical and administrative processes do not drag on. He also emphasized that affected residents need certainty about relocation, including mapping temporary housing to permanent housing.

The Minister, who was born in Sumatra, added that the acceleration of development was also proof that coordination between the central and regional governments was effective after the emergency response period was completed.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of North Sumatra, Surya, who was present at the groundbreaking ceremony, underlined the importance of the timely construction of the huntap to reduce the burden of residents who are still living in shelters.

"We hope that this huntap will be completed on time so that people affected by the disaster will no longer linger in the evacuation," he said.

Surya said the Provincial Government would monitor the progress of construction and strengthen coordination with the Tapsel Regency Government, the land provider (PTPN IV), and relevant ministries.

On that occasion, the Deputy Governor also reminded the importance of prioritizing residents who lost their homes completely and who live in flood-prone areas.

On the same occasion, the Regent of South Tapanuli, Gus Irawan Pasaribu, said that the construction of huntap was a priority for the local government to restore the lives of residents, especially those who lost property and livelihoods due to flash floods.

"The construction of 227 permanent dwellings in an area of around 5 hectares is a tangible manifestation of the government's commitment to restoring the lives of residents. This is not only building houses, but also rebuilding the hopes and futures of the people of South Tapanuli," he said.

Gus Irawan added that this permanent relocation is part of disaster risk mitigation because the riverbank area has been assessed as vulnerable and uninhabitable.

"We also appreciate the cooperation of SOEs in providing land for the relocation of huntap, which is considered to accelerate the construction process, especially in the initial stage of site maturation," said Gus Irawan.

For information, the construction of the huntap in Batang Toru utilizes a portion of the plantation area owned by PTPN IV PalmCo which is currently coordinated for use with the local government.

PTPN IV PalmCo President Director Jatmiko K. Santosa, stated that his party supports every stage of providing housing for flood-affected residents, both through borrowing assets and providing support facilities for residents.

"In accordance with the directions of Danantara and BP BUMN, we are ready to support all stages of the construction of housing for flood-affected residents, including the provision of land and supporting facilities as needed by the local government," explained Jatmiko.

Jatmiko said this support did not stop during the emergency but continued until the construction phase of the residence and the recovery of basic services, of course, in collaboration with other SOEs. PTPN IV PalmCo previously had prepared an unoccupied official residence as a temporary shelter.

Along with the development of huntap, the government has prepared temporary housing (huntara), especially for residents whose houses were completely lost. In addition to permanent housing, temporary housing is also prepared by the government and SOEs to be a place to live until the construction of huntap is completed gradually.

"The construction of basic facilities such as sanitation, clean water, and access to health has been mapped in coordination across agencies," concluded Jatmiko.