Bad Floods, DPR Asks Ministry Of Public Works To Complete Bekasi River Sodetan

The situation overflowing Bekasi River inundated a number of areas in Bekasi City, West Java, Tuesday (4/2/2025). (doc BNPB)

Member of Commission V DPR RI, Sudjatmiko, highlighted the lack of optimal spatial planning and drainage systems in the Bekasi City area, West Java. According to him, these two things exacerbated the impact of flooding in Bekasi City due to heavy rains that flushed early this March.

"In the future, this must be improved to minimize the impact of flooding," said Sudjatmiko, Wednesday, March 5.

The PKB legislator from the West Java electoral district asked the Ministry of Public Works (PU) to complete the Bekasi River drain. He admitted that he had coordinated with the Bekasi City Government and the Ministry of Public Works regarding future steps in terms of resolving this drain.

"I once said during a meeting with the Ministry of Public Works that the importance of the Bekasi River sodetan was rushed stages 1 to 7, especially reducing the great floods for 5 years," he said.

As is known, Bekasi City has become one of the worst flood-affected areas in the Jabodetabek area in the last few days. Eight of the 12 sub-districts of the buffer city of Jakarta were flooded with various heights, crippling economic activity.

Sudjatmiko said this flood was the worst since 2020 in Bekasi. "The Pondok Gede Permai area, Bekasi is the worst affected area. In Bogor, the intensity of rain is recorded at 232 mm per day, while the normal threshold is only around 125 to 145 mm per day. So, this is really a big disaster," he said.

Until now, he continued, thousands of residents were still taking refuge in various emergency post points. He emphasized that the safety and fulfillment of the basic needs of these refugees must be a priority.

"The government and related parties continue to strive to distribute aid and find long-term solutions to overcome the problem of flooding which continues to repeat itself in the Bekasi area," he said.

Sudjatmiko hopes that the Mayor of Bekasi and the Governor of West Java will immediately synergize with the Central Government. Moreover, this includes the Agglomeration area so that flooding causes the economy to be paralyzed and disrupt not only Bekasi but also surrounding areas, including Jakarta.

"If the flood can be reduced by the flood point, the economy can recover quickly," he said.

The man who is familiarly called Miko also hopes that in the near future the government will continue to make mitigation efforts related to high rainfall. One of them is with weather modification technology to reduce the intensity of rain in the Jabodetabek area.

"Alhamdulillah, BMKG, BNPB, and the Ministry of PMK will carry out weather modifications for the next 12 days. Hopefully the rain can be accelerated and diverted to the Java Sea area, so that rainfall in Jabodetabek can be reduced and reduce the risk of further flooding," he concluded.