KLHK Asks All Governors To Rehabilitate Watershed, Anticipate Floods And Landslides

Press conference on flood management at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) asked governors of all provinces in Indonesia to rehabilitate river bodies to minimize floods and landslides in this rainy season. This is in accordance with government regulations which emphasize that rivers must be free from buildings that narrow the flow of water.

KLHK Forest Research and Development Center researcher Chairil Anwar Siregar stated that every governor must pay close attention to environmental conditions in the river. If you don't pay close attention, the impact will be detrimental to the community around the area, because it is prone to flooding and landslides.

"We have suggested everywhere. The governor should be rehabilitating river bodies. That helps reduce the intensity of river damage," Chairil said, at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Building, Manggala Wanabakti, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 21.

Chairil explained, during floods and landslides in Jabodetabek, the intensity of rain reached 370 millimeters and occurred in one night. This amount is equivalent to two months of rain. Therefore, this data needs to be a reference to increase awareness.

"You can imagine, so the river must not be built a place to live," he said.

Meanwhile, for slope areas, Chauril advised people to avoid agricultural activities there. If you want to carry out plant cultivation activities, it is hoped that you will not establish a place to live on the slopes because it will be very dangerous in the rainy season like this.

"Landslides are related to the slope (slope) and this is the most critical. Because at night the temperature drops, water molecules enlarge, soil particles are uplifted, and during the day the soil temperature returns to normal and soil creep is removed," he explained.

According to Chairil, if it happens on flat ground, it will return to its original place. However, if it is on a sloping ground with the support of gravity, then the land will landslide.

"As long as the soil surface is well vegetated, the roots are good, the flow will be good infiltration, but if it is on a sloping area, the runoff will be very fast. Action is needed to slow the run off by reducing the power of abrasion," he said.