The Ministry Of Public Works Prepares IDR 3.6 Trillion To Build Embankments In Kali Bekasi

Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti during a meeting met with the Minister of ATR/Head of BPN Nusron Wahid and West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) will allocate a budget of IDR 3.6 trillion to build embankments on the banks of Kali Bekasi, West Java, for 19.64 kilometers.

This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti after a meeting with the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid and West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi at the PU Ministry office, Jakarta, Monday, March 17.

"The value of the work for the embankment in Bekasi is from package 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, which is a total of Rp. 3.6 trillion," said Diana.

In addition, Diana said, her party will also build eight retention ponds. However, he said, currently his party is still conducting a feasibility study (FS).

"But for the retention pond, we are currently doing the FS," he said.

According to Diana, all the embankment construction work can only be done starting next June. Because, currently there are still problems with land acquisition.

"For the management of embankments that until now we still need land and land, of course, we must work together with stakeholders in the regions," said Diana.

Previously, Diana highlighted the flash floods that hit Sukabumi to Jabodetabek some time ago.

Diana said that one of the causes of flooding was the large number of residential areas in the river border.

Diana admitted that she had visited several flash flood points, one of which was in Cisarua, Bogor Regency. In fact, residential areas on the river side cause the size of the river to shrink.

"In Cisarua, the flood hit residential areas that were above the river. In the past, the river was big, and now it is small. Why? Because many houses were standing, actually it was a river border, but he added his houses," Diana said when met at her office, Wednesday, March 12.

He considered that the existence of the settlement was the cause of yesterday's flash floods. This is because the water that should have flowed heavily because the intensity of the rain was quite high, now it is unable to accommodate water because the river size is shrinking.

Given, the size of the river or lake that is shrinking, eventually the flow of water cannot be stopped.

The flow of water then overflowed and caused flash floods in residents' homes.

Meanwhile, in Bekasi itself, the conditions are also not much different. Diana assessed that the existence of settlements in the river border made it difficult for the Ministry of Public Works to build river embankments.

"Tomorrow we and the Governor of DKI (Pramono Anung) and the Minister of ATR (Nusron Wahid) will sit together again to (discuss) the embankments in Bekasi," he said.