Medan Continues To Be Haunted By Floods, BNPB Reveals 5.6 Percent Of Forests In Watersheds Bobby Nasution Must Pay Attention To

Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution inspects the flood on Jalan Dr. Mansyur, Medan, Thursday (18/8/2022). (ANTARA Doc)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that only 5.6 percent of the forest along the Deli Watershed (DAS) in Medan City, North Sumatra remains, according to a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in an online Disaster Briefing said that the flood that occurred in Medan City, almost occurred in one watershed area.

"This is also our concern because from the 2015 JICA study. So there is a standard in one watershed that 30 percent must be forest, so that water absorption is optimal, specifically for the Deli watershed, according to the results of the 2015 JICA friends study, only 5.6 percent ," Abdul said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 22.

Abdul said with 5.6 percent forest in the Deli watershed, of course the water absorption is not optimal. If the water absorption is not optimal, when the rainfall intensity is high, it will not be able to consolidate or absorb water upstream, then it becomes a surface run-off that will cause flooding both in the middle of the watershed and downstream, namely Medan City.

"If we talk about the medium and long term, of course, the current forest coverage is 5.6 percent, we have to pursue it again to 30 percent, because this is the standard for one watershed that can function optimally and not endanger the people along the river," said Abdul

He said in the short term, areas of waterways that may overflow can be installed with temporary embankments.

"If we talk about urban areas, Medan is a metropolitan city like Jakarta, we make sure that the primary, secondary and tertiary waterways are free from garbage," said Abdul.

Previously, heavy rains caused flooding in several parts of Medan City, North Sumatra Province, on Thursday (18/8) early in the morning until morning.

The flood caused inundation as high as 40 to 50 cm in residential areas and vehicle traffic lanes in the Medan Selayang District.

In addition to hitting parts of the Medan Selayang District, the flood also covered parts of the Medan Maimun District, Medan Sunggal District, Medan Johor District, and Medan Baru District.