Junimart Girsang Urges LHK Minister To Gubsu Edy To Trace The Cause Of Banjir Bandang Parapat

Flash flood in Parapat Simalungun Sumut (DOK IST)

JAKARTA - Vice Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives Junimart Girsang asked the Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Siti Nurbaya to immediately evaluate the permit to borrow using forests after the flash flood of parapat tourist area, Simalungun, North Sumatra.

Junimart said the government should evaluate forest borrowing permits to trace if there is illegal logging in the area.

"This is very urgent so the Minister of LHK must immediately go down to the field to crack down on illegal logging that occurred there, as well as evaluate all forest loan permits to businessmen," Junimart was quoted as saying by Antara, Friday, May 14.

Floods hit parapat tourist area and Sibaganding Village, Girsang Sipangan Bolon District, Thursday, May 13. As a result some houses were damaged and transportation access was cut off due to a mixture of water and mud.

The area was flooded on Thursday around 3:30 p.m. after heavy rains. Flood material in the form of water mixed with mud, wood, and stone came down from Bangun Dolok Hill in Parapat, then soaked Sisingamangaraja Street and Anggarajim Street.

According to Junimart, deforestation is likely one of the causes of flash floods in Parapat.

"I am worried that the same disaster will hit other districts and sub-districts will follow because of systemically structured deforestation," junimart said.

Therefore, Junimart urged the Regent of Simalungun and the Governor of North Sumatra to trace the cause of the flash flood and fix the main source of the incident.

He also asked the central government together with the local government to rehabilitate and normalize parapat tourist areas and environments affected by flash floods.

"To the Regent of Simalungun and the Governor of North Sumatra should immediately fix the main source of landslides and flash floods. Similarly, the environment of the community so that parapat tourism is not too long disturbed and tourists are comfortable to recreation," said Junimart.