Agriculture Minister instructs river basin authority to repair breached embankment causing Kendari flood

Kendari (ANTARA) - The Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) of the Republic of Indonesia, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has instructed the River Basin Authority (BWS) to immediately repair the breached embankment that caused flooding in residents’ settlements and agricultural lands in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

The Minister, when met in Kendari on Tuesday, stated that based on the identification results, the damage to the water infrastructure was the main trigger for the water overflowing into productive areas and community settlements.

“This morning at dawn, I decided to depart to see the situation directly and resolve the issue. The first thing is the water sources; it turns out there is a breached embankment. We have asked the BWS to resolve it within one week. This will be worked on immediately,” said Amran Sulaiman while inspecting the flood location in Kendari.

Amran emphasised that his presence represents the central government to provide real and quick solutions in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

In addition to technical repairs, he assured that logistical assistance in the form of 30 tonnes of rice and 1,500 litres of cooking oil would be sent immediately to meet the basic needs of residents.

“The government is moving quickly on the orders of the President. We had a meeting last night with the President, monitoring the entire country for people’s complaints. We came down directly and this morning we brought solutions, not narratives,” he said.

Amran Sulaiman also requested Perum Bulog to build drying facilities (dryers) in their warehouses so that farmers’ harvest yields can be properly handled even in the midst of extreme weather conditions. Overall, the total assistance realised amounts to Rp10.5 billion, including personal cash assistance of Rp500 million as a form of social concern.

During the working visit, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman was accompanied by several regional officials, including the Deputy Governor of Sultra, Kendari Mayor Siska Karina Imran, and representatives from Forkopimda to ensure optimal distribution of aid to residents along the Wanggu River and other affected areas.