Preventing Repeated Floods, Government Tightens Building Arrangement In Mega Mendung And Valley Anai

Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti while visiting the Mega Mendung area and the Anai Valley, Padang Panjang City, Wednesday (10/12/2025). (ANTARA)

PADANG PANJANG - Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti instructed the tightening of spatial planning, especially regarding the existence of buildings commensurate with the river in the Mega Mendung area and the Anai Valley in Padang Panjang City, Tanah Datar Regency and Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra.

"Restructuring the region is an important step to minimize disaster risk in the future. Cross-sectoral integration is a must, especially in efforts to control buildings that stand on a river commensurate with the three areas," he said after reviewing the locations of a number of disaster-affected points, along with a group of Commission V DPR RI in Lembah Anai, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 10.

According to him, a good arrangement will determine the safety of the community in the future. There should no longer be settlements in vulnerable areas.

According to him, coordination between the River Basin Center and the Road Hall in the construction of flood control infrastructure is very important, including the construction of check and dam upstream to control the flow of water.

He said when he saw the condition of the river at the disaster points of the Twin Bridge, Mega Mendung, and Anai Valley, they did not see any piles of wood.

"The accumulation of wood often exacerbates the impact of flash floods in a number of other areas," he said.

He reminded the local government to tighten spatial planning, especially regarding the existence of buildings in the river commensurate with the Mega Mendung area and the Anai Valley.

The Wamen PU group was led by Deputy Chairman of Commission V DPR RI Ridwan Bae and was attended by a number of other members including West Sumatra Dapil Member Zigo Rolanda.

Ridwan Bae emphasized that the ban on construction is commensurate with rivers in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

He reminded all parties not to rush into making decisions and to ensure that every plan from the Ministry of Public Works is carried out carefully.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor of Padang Panjang, Alex Saputra, said that the Padang Panjang City Government had prepared a permanent residential relocation location for affected residents, especially those living around the Twin Bridge.

"The Padang Panjang City Government has established intensive coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Special Staff of the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) regarding the provision of permanent housing," said Allek.

He added that there was support from external parties such as Willie Salim and Ustaz Derry Sulaiman as well as support from the Ministry of Public Works and the Sumatra V River Basin in the recovery process and following up on the Wamen's directives, greatly helped accelerate the preparation of housing for residents who lost their homes.