Bekasi Regency Accelerates Normalization of the River to Prevent Flooding

BEKASI - The Bekasi Regency Government, West Java, has accelerated the stages of river normalization activities at priority points as a handling effort to prevent the annual flood cycle and save agricultural areas from potential drought.

Head of the Bekasi Regency Water Resources, Road and Construction (SDABMBK) Office Henri Lincoln admitted that the shift in the implementation time had been proposed considering that all river normalization activities could usually only be carried out in the third quarter of each year.

"We have reported to the Acting Regent of Bekasi regarding the plan for river normalization activities so that it can be carried out in the first quarter for the optimization of post-disaster handling," he said as reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 6.

Regional leaders have also given instructions to accelerate the implementation of activities with a focus on handling the Cikarang Bekasi Laut River (CBL) and Ciherang considering that these two streams play an important role in controlling floods in the downstream area, especially densely populated residential areas.

According to him, the acceleration of normalization is the main priority in flood disaster mitigation, even though a complete solution cannot be carried out in the near future. At least the removal of sedimentation and the repair of embankments are expected to be able to reduce the potential and impact of flooding.

"Currently, activities are directed at large rivers. For studies and planning, it is still in process through the Water Resources Management Division and the River Basin Agency," he said.

Henri stated that the two large rivers were the authority of the River Basin Agency (BBWS) so that his party coordinated to draft a memorandum of understanding for cooperation. BBWS in this case provides technical recommendations while the implementation of activities will be carried out together.

"The pattern of cooperation is more or less the same as that already applied in the construction of the BSH-0 Dam. BBWS provides technical recommendations and implementation is carried out together with the Bekasi Regency Government," he said.

The normalization of the CBL and Ciherang rivers is planned in stages considering the length of the flow to the estuary. The determination of priority segmentation in this normalization activity is through the results of coordination with BBWS.

Head of Water Resources Management at the Bekasi Regency SDABMBK Office, Agung Mulya, continued that the team conducted a technical study on river normalization activities, including priority points such as the Sukawangi, Tambun Utara and Babelan sub-districts, which were the most severely affected by flooding.

"When the flood yesterday, the CBL River was no longer able to hold water and normalization was carried out to facilitate the flow of water. Meanwhile, the Ciherang River also has the potential to overflow so that normalization and raising the river bank also need to be carried out," he said.

Agung admitted that the normalization of the river would continue even though there were limitations on regional finances. This year's budget cuts are quite large so that the realization of activities is projected to only reach 30 percent compared to the previous year.

With this condition, the number of normalization activities that can be carried out this year is estimated to be less than 20 river normalization activities.

"In addition to the leadership's directions regarding flood management, we are also trying to carry out river normalization in agricultural areas to overcome drought in the dry season," he said.