The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has confirmed that the main channel\nof the Barito River around the Kalahien area, Dusun Selatan District,\nSouth Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, still has water flow and can\nbe navigated by ships and boats.<\/p>\n
This confirmation is based on direct monitoring by the Kalimantan III\nRiver Basin Agency (BWS) on Friday (21\/8\/2026), following the\ncirculation of a video on social media showing the Barito River with\nsandbanks in the middle of the river.<\/p>\n
The monitoring results show that the Barito River has indeed\nexperienced a drop in water level and discharge due to the dry season.\nIn several parts of the river, sandbanks or fairly extensive sand\ndeposits are also visible.<\/p>\n
However, this condition does not mean the Barito River has dried up\nentirely. The main channel of the Barito River still has water flow with\nan estimated width of around 100 metres and can be navigated by ships\nand boats operating on the river.<\/p>\n
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said water is an important\nfoundation for life, so its availability needs to be maintained through\nrapid handling as well as sustainable infrastructure development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWater is an important foundation for life and development.\nTherefore, when drought occurs, the government must move quickly to\nensure the basic needs of the community are met, while preparing\nlong-term solutions so that communities are more resilient in facing\ndrought,\u201d said Minister Dody in a written statement on Friday\n(21\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Head of the Kalimantan III River Basin Agency Sandi\nEriyanto explained that the monitoring results show there is indeed a\nreduction in the Barito River\u2019s water discharge as a result of the dry\nseason. However, the sandbanks visible in the video are parts of the\nriver that are not receiving water flow due to the drop in water\nlevel.<\/p>\n
According to Sandi, the position where the documentation circulating\non social media was taken is above the Kalahien Bridge. From that camera\nangle, the fairly extensive sandbanks can give the impression that the\nBarito River\u2019s body is experiencing drought.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, when direct monitoring was carried out, the main river\nchannel was still visible with water and continues to function as a\nriver transportation route,\u201d said Sandi.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Public Works, through the Kalimantan III River Basin\nAgency, continues to monitor water levels and river channels in the\nBarito River Basin, especially during the dry season period. The\nmonitoring is carried out to determine the development of river\nconditions as well as to anticipate the impact of falling water levels\non community activities and river transportation.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the Kalimantan III River Basin Agency will also continue\nto update information based on direct field monitoring results so that\nthe condition of the Barito River can be known comprehensively and\naccurately.<\/p>\n
For this reason, the Ministry of Public Works urges the public to\nlook at information regarding the condition of the Barito River\ncomprehensively and not solely based on documentation from a single\ncamera angle. The drop in water level and the emergence of sandbanks are\nconditions that occur in several parts of the river during the dry\nseason, while the main channel of the Barito River at the monitoring\nlocation still has water and can be navigated by river\ntransportation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-works-ministry-confirms-barito-river-still-navigable-1787323867", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }