Central Java Provincial Government Allocates Rp400 Million for Emergency Flood Management in Pati

The Central Java Provincial Government is moving swiftly to address the tidal flood disaster that has submerged coastal areas of Pati Regency for years. As an emergency measure, a budget of Rp400 million has been prepared to repair severely damaged coastal protection infrastructure. Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi conducted a direct inspection of Tunggulsari Village, Tayu District, Pati Regency, on Tuesday (23/6). During the visit, the Governor was accompanied by Acting Pati Regent Risma Ardhi Chandra to observe the damage to a 450-metre embankment, which is the main trigger for seawater entering residential areas and productive lands. “The impact of this tidal flood is extraordinary. We came to conduct a direct inspection. After a coordination meeting, today we decided on concrete steps to handle the tidal flooding in Pati,” said Ahmad Luthfi during the inspection. The primary focus of short-term handling is the repair of the 450-metre breached embankment. This damage has caused seawater to burst through and inundate at least 10 villages in two districts, namely Tayu and Margorejo. Ahmad Luthfi explained that the Rp400 million fund is specifically allocated for emergency embankment repairs to prevent seawater from entering during high tides. “This is the most essential step. For a more comprehensive long-term solution, we will discuss it further in a follow-up meeting so that the solution is permanent,” he added. Acting Pati Regent Risma Ardhi Chandra revealed that limited regional budgets have been the main obstacle to embankment repairs so far. The assistance from the Central Java Provincial Government is seen as a breath of fresh air for thousands of affected families. According to Risma, the economic impact of this disaster has been massive. Besides submerging thousands of homes, the tidal flood also inundated around 400 hectares of fishpond areas. Fish farmers have had to swallow losses of up to hundreds of billions of Rupiah due to the loss of cultivated fish and shrimp commodities swept away by currents. “This assistance from the Central Java Provincial Government is a temporary solution that we desperately need. We hope this embankment repair will be realised soon so that residents’ economic activities, especially fish farmers, can recover,” concluded Risma.