Disperkimtan: Slum Areas In Palembang Reduced From 1,092 To 900 Hectares

Illustration - one of the slums in Palembang City (ANTARA/HO)

PALEMBANG - The Public Housing Office of the Settlement and Land Area (Disperkimtan) of Palembang City, South Sumatra, said the slum area in the city was reduced to 900 hectares (ha) in mid-2023, from the previous 1,092 ha. "The slum area in Palembang City can be reduced because the Kumuh City Program (Kityaku) is running well," said Head of the Palembang City Disperkimtan Affan Prapanca in Palembang, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, August 22. Currently, there are several sub-districts that are still in the heavy slum category, namely Kertapati, Seberang Ulu I, Seberang Ulu II, Kalidoni, Sematang Borang, and Gandus sub-districts. The heavy slum areas, such as the dense population, too much drainage channel, less representative toilet system, damaged roads, no lighting, and construction of slum buildings or unmaintained. "However, on average, the various sub-districts have slum areas, but they are not categorized as heavy slums," he said. In an effort to handle slum areas, his party together with all regional apparatus organizations (OPD) related to repairing environmental roads, repairing environmental channels, improving residential construction conditions, providing other public facilities, namely street lighting. "Next year we will continue to collaborate with all parties to continue to strive to reduce slum areas and need time gradually," he said. Disperkimtan Palembang is currently pursuing the target of the Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJM) of two percent of slum areas by 2023.

"Until 2023, we have to finish around 160 ha of slum areas that must be addressed," said Affan.