BNPB RR Komendasikan Tutup Tempat Wisata Di Sempadan Sungai Kawasan Lembah Anai

The location of the bath in the Batang Anai river border, Tanah Datar, was lost by flash floods. (ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim West Sumatra)

Deputy Governor of West Sumatra, Audy Joinaldy, said the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recommended closing tourist attractions located in the Batang Anai river border in the Anai Valley, Tanah Datar Regency.

"Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto while reviewing the post-disaster conditions in Lembah Anai recommended tourist attractions in the river border to be closed because it was dangerous," he said in Padang as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 20.

He mentioned that before the disaster there were several bathing tourist attractions built in the Batang Anai river border. The tourist attractions are very crowded with tourists.

However, the Batang Anai River is one of the rivers that originates in Mount Marapi so that the potential for flash flood disasters is still high, therefore tourist attractions are recommended to be closed because they are considered dangerous.

"Now the condition is that the tourist attractions no longer exist because they are badly damaged and even lost in floods and flash floods. In the future, it may not be allowed anymore," he said.

The former bathing tourist spot will function as a river border that aims to block the flow of water that can damage the country's road which is right next to it.

Previously, two buildings in the river border in Lembah Anai, each construction of the hotel building, as well as the Xakapa Cafe, were deemed to have violated the rules by the West Sumatra Water Resources Council (DSDA), the Ministry of ATR/BPN and related agencies.

The Permit for the Two-building Room Utilization Principle (IPPR) is considered to have violated the Water Resources sector and the Ministerial Regulation (Permen) of PUPR No. 28/2015 and does not have a recommendation/permission from the related sector.

The two buildings are planned to be demolished by the relevant agencies. However, before the demolition process, floods and flash floods occurred, the Xakapa Cafe was flooded. How many bath places around the location were also badly damaged.