Agam Often Flooded, PU Ministry Prepares Sabo Dam and 6 Meter Dike

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is preparing a permanent solution to overcome the recurring floods that hit the Batang Tumayo River area, Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra.

The government not only relies on emergency handling, but will build a Sabo Dam in the upstream section as well as strengthen and raise the river embankment up to 5-6 meters.

Minister PU Dody Hanggodo said that this step was a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's instructions that flood problems that directly affect the community should be handled comprehensively.

"I deliberately came to solve this problem. So this is in accordance with the direction of President Prabowo, don't let the community be affected by the disaster and then can't smile anymore. Our community must be able to smile again as soon as possible," said Dody when reviewing the post-flood disaster handling in Sungai Batang Tumayo, quoted from a written statement, Saturday, August 1.

According to Dody, the results of the field review showed that one of the causes of flooding came from the opening of the flow in the upstream section which was quite wide. This condition makes it possible for water runoff to lead to residential areas when it rains with high intensity.

To control the flow from upstream, the PU Ministry will build a Sabo Dam. The government has also asked the Sabo Engineering Office in Yogyakarta to conduct biotechnical testing to ensure that the construction design is in accordance with field conditions.

"We will make the Sabo Dam on top. In the meantime, we will smooth out the river flow to the estuary, plus we will raise the embankment. Maybe, if it can be 5 to 6 meters, while being strengthened so that even if it rains and floods do not run to settlements," said Dody.

In addition to the construction of the Sabo Dam and the elevation of the embankment, handling in the Batang Tumayo River continues through a number of emergency measures. The Ministry of PU has carried out river channel normalization, sediment removal and installation of a weir to strengthen the river bank.

A total of five units of PC200 excavator heavy equipment have been deployed since July 20, 2026 to accelerate handling work at the site.

Dody emphasized that flood control was a priority before the government continued to build various other public facilities in the affected areas. Flood control infrastructure needs to be addressed first so that the construction of houses of worship, schools, boarding schools and other facilities are not affected by disasters again.

"The budget for this handling, God willing, is there, I also don't know how much the needs are because it is still being calculated by the head of the department. The commitment from the central government, from the President, whatever the community needs, we are ready," he said.

This handling is part of the commitment of the Ministry of PU to provide reliable, safe and resilient infrastructure against disasters.

Efforts are carried out gradually, starting from a rapid response to emergency conditions, river normalization, embankment reinforcement to the construction of permanent and sustainable flood control infrastructure.