PUPR Minister Basuki Suspects Illegal Development Is The Cause Of Floods In West Sumatra

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has detected the practice of illegal logging or illegal logging as the cause of flash floods in Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra).

"I think it is geographical condition in West Sumatra, right, cliffs, river roads directly. But if there is a galodo, this flash flood, there are two possibilities. Maybe there are illegal logging above," Basuki said in a voice recording shared by Public Relations of the Ministry of PUPR, quoted Wednesday, March 13.

Basuki assessed that forest conditions in West Sumatra tend to be better than other regions. He also said the forest in West Sumatra was still in a green condition.

"I also suspect that actually the forest in West Sumatra is better than other places. The forest, right, is still all green. Actually, before there was a clear flood, the water was also clear. I saw at the Sawah Laweh Dam the water was clear at that time. Of course, right, actually still good," he said.

In addition to illegal logging, Basuki also mentioned that natural factors were the cause. He said the rainfall in the area was already above the extreme level.

Based on BMKG data, said Basuki, rainfall is said to be extreme if it reaches more than 150 mm per day. Meanwhile, at the disaster site, rainfall was recorded at up to 400 mm per day.

"Or because of extreme rainfall. Actually, extreme rain is if (based on data) BMKG is more than 150 mm per day, it is extreme. This is said to be 400 mm per day," he said.

As for the 12 districts in West Sumatra that were affected by the flood, 5 of them were worst affected. One of them is in Pesisir Selatan Regency.