Commission V of the DPR asks the Ministry of PU to immediately normalize the river affected by the disaster.

Residents cross the flood that occurred on Jl Perjuangan III, Kurao Pagang, Nanggalo, Padang City, West Sumatra (Sumbar) on Friday (2/1) afternoon. (Photo: ANTARA)

Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Danang Wicaksana Sulistya, asked the Ministry of Public Works (Kemen PU) and the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) to immediately normalize large-scale rivers after natural disasters that hit a number of areas in Sumatra.

Danang assessed that this step was important as part of accelerating the rehabilitation and reconstruction of disaster-affected areas, especially in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. According to him, many incoming reports indicate that the condition of the river after the disaster has undergone significant changes.

"We have received a lot of information that the river flow has changed direction, changed position, and even widened. This condition certainly requires serious and planned handling," said Danang Wicaksana in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday, January 3.

The Gerindra Faction legislator explained that the normalization process should be carried out comprehensively, including starting from the estuary or from the sea, in order to accelerate the recovery of river functions. In fact, if necessary, said Danang, the government can open a new river route based on a mature study.

"Normalization must be based on technical, ecological, and hydrological studies. Everything must be calculated, from water discharge, reservoir needs, to the ideal river area to be able to be part of the disaster resilience system in the future," he explained.

Danang said the normalization of the river was in line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto when he chaired a limited meeting in Aceh Tamiang, on Thursday, January 1.

Danang emphasized that Commission V of the DPR RI strongly supports the normalization of rivers as a strategic effort to minimize the risk of similar disasters from recurring. According to him, good river management will play an important role in flood control and disaster mitigation.

Danang also encouraged the involvement of the Ministry of Transportation, considering the normalization of rivers has the potential to intersect with the shipping channel to the sea. With cross-ministerial synergy, he hopes that post-disaster recovery efforts in the Sumatra region can run faster, more integrated, and sustainable.

"We encourage our partners in Commission V, namely the Ministry of PU and the Ministry of Transportation, because this is also related to access to the sea. It is not impossible that there are river routes that can function as a shipping channel at the same time," he concluded.