Bekasi Government Demolishes 32 Illegal Structures Along CBL River for Normalisation Project
The Bekasi Regency Government has taken firm action to restore macro drainage functions by demolishing illegal buildings along the banks of the Cikarang Bekasi Laut (CBL) River. This operation is part of an integrated civil engineering and spatial planning effort to tackle acute sedimentation disrupting water flow in the area.
Head of the Bekasi Regency Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Surya Wijaya, confirmed that the operation targeted 32 structures across two strategic areas. Specifically, 20 buildings were located in North Tambun District (Srimahi and Srijaya Villages), while 12 others were in Sukawangi District (Sukamekar Village).
This enforcement action is not merely administrative but a technical prerequisite for commencing the river normalisation project. According to technical data from the Bekasi Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), the CBL River is currently suffering from heavy sedimentation, which has significantly reduced its water capacity.
Surya explained that once the riverbanks are cleared of illegal structures, the government will implement infrastructure solutions, including the construction of permanent embankments. “This enforcement is part of the CBL River normalisation activities. According to information from the PUPR Agency, embankments will be built on both the left and right sides of the river,” Surya stated on Friday (14/8).
Beyond sedimentation, another technical challenge along the CBL riverbanks is the presence of land subsidence points. This geotechnical phenomenon has the potential to damage the river’s function and endanger surrounding residential areas if not addressed immediately.
The regional government has mapped out follow-up steps for critical locations, including the area towards BSH Karangbahagia. The arrangement will focus on strengthening soil structures and synchronising with the embankment construction plan to restore the river’s optimal hydrological function.
The Bekasi Regency Government emphasised that successful flood control heavily depends on public compliance in maintaining road reserve spaces and riverbanks. Residents are urged not to rebuild structures in the cleared areas.
“For residents who have already built structures, we urge them to prepare to pack up and find alternative business or residential locations,” Surya added. This arrangement is considered crucial because the CBL River serves a strategic function as the main drainage canal to the sea, making its smooth flow key to flood control in northern and central Bekasi Regency.
Through inter-agency synergy involving PLN and Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT), it is hoped that the CBL River normalisation can proceed sustainably. The optimisation of the river’s function is expected to minimise the annual flood risks that frequently affect the North Tambun area and its surroundings.