As Land Prices Rise, Housing Minister Proposes Building Homes Over Rivers
The Minister of Housing and Residential Areas (PKP), Maruarar Sirait, has introduced a discourse regarding plans to study the concept of housing built over rivers. One of the primary reasons for this proposal is the increasingly expensive price of land.
“Please pray that there will be a breakthrough. When I present this, I hope it does not become a polemic. For instance, how we might start thinking about building three or four-storey houses using steel—without the need for lifts—over existing rivers,” said Maruarar, affectionately known as Ara, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday (29/08/2026).
“Many might say it is impossible or even impossible today, but because land is becoming more expensive, I see that there are many rivers available. Please pray for us.”
According to him, the first priority will be to study the regulatory and legality aspects of such a project.
As is known, Law No. 17 of 2019 concerning Water Resources states that a River Basin is a land area that forms a single unit with a river and its tributaries, functioning to collect, store, and flow water from rainfall to lakes or the sea naturally. Its land boundaries serve as topographical separators, and its sea boundaries extend to waters still influenced by land activities.
Furthermore, Article 1le of Government Regulation No. 38 of 2011 stipulates that if studies regarding the determination of river buffer zones show the presence of buildings within the buffer zone, those buildings shall be declared in ‘status quo’ and must be phased out to restore the river buffer’s function.
“We will see. This is just one of the ideas. We will ensure that we do not violate any rules. My number one priority in this study is to ensure we do not break the law,” said Ara.
He noted that regulatory and legal aspects would likely be the priority of the study. Other aspects to be examined include construction methods, costs, and all other factors related to residential living.
“I hope that in 2-3 months, I can present the concept to the public, including the cost calculations, the steel requirements, and the regulations. We need these kinds of breakthroughs; as I said, please pray for us,” Ara added.
Nevertheless, Ara emphasised that the plan depends on public approval and that he would not impose it. “I do not want to answer all questions now, but in three months, I will explain. If the people agree and the calculations make sense, we will proceed. I will not force it. I believe we must think of many breakthroughs for the good of this country,” he asserted.
He concluded that the rising and increasingly limited availability of land is the key factor driving the study of this river-based housing concept.