Banten Provincial Government Orders Halt to Private School Project Disrupting River in Serang

A private school construction project deemed to be disrupting the flow of the Cikalumpang River in Kadubeurem Village, Padarincang District, Serang Regency, Banten, has drawn complaints from residents. The Banten Provincial Government has now ordered the project to be halted.

“We have just received input from the community, who say their rice field irrigation has been affected. Downstream there are 1,000 hectares of rice fields. The irrigation covers 1,000 hectares,” said Padarincang community figure KH Embay Mulya Syarief on Monday (31/8/2026).

Embay said the water flow from Cikalumpang supplies industrial needs in Cilegon. The project is said to have disrupted the water supply.

“Water is pumped from Rawa Danau to Cilegon, to the industrial estate. So if this river is damaged, the impact will be extraordinary,” he said.

Embay expressed hope that the school project would comply with regulations. He said private school construction projects must not damage the environment.

Head of the Banten Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), Arlan Marzan, said his office has requested that work be temporarily halted. He will summon the relevant parties tomorrow.

“They have been warned to stop their activities. Tomorrow they will be invited for clarification, and we will also invite the Serang Regency Public Works Office and the Serang Regency PTSP, because there should be a building permit in the form of a PBG before any activity is carried out,” said Arlan.

Arlan said he will check whether the project already has the necessary permits and complies with regulations.

“We are also inviting BBWSC3 because the authority over the Cikalumpang River lies with the central government,” he said.