Four Sabo Dams on Aek Tukka River Accelerated; Dody Warns Embankments Could Fail in Heavy Rain

JAKARTA — The Ministry of Public Works is accelerating construction of four priority sabo dams on the Aek Tukka River in Central Tapanuli Regency to control flooding and sediment material that could threaten residential areas during heavy rainfall.

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo stated that the accelerated sabo dam development represents a permanent solution to replace emergency measures currently consisting of river embankments.

“Specifically here, I am requesting that sabo dam construction be accelerated. At minimum, some must be completed this year. Because if heavy rainfall occurs for 4–5 hours, I am concerned that these temporary embankments will not be able to withstand sediment material from upstream,” said Hanggodo on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Currently, management of the Aek Tukka situation remains emergency-focused through embankment construction using sheet pile methods in densely populated areas as well as earth embankments.

As an initial stage, four sabo dams will be constructed in 2026: Sabo Dam TK-D.1 in Bona Lumban Village, TK-D.2 in Hutan Nabolon Village, Sabo Dam Oprit TK-D.3 in Sigala-gala Village, and TK-D.4 in Tukka Village.

The four sabo dams are designed with spans ranging from 15 metres to 50 metres, heights between 3 metres and 6 metres, and a total sediment storage capacity of approximately 205,000 cubic metres.

Hanggodo emphasised that sabo dams function to retain material in the upper section of the river, allowing water to flow downstream without carrying sediment loads that could damage embankments and residential areas.

Head of the Great River Basin Authority for Sumatera II in Medan, Feriyanto Pawenrusi, stated that sabo dam construction on the Aek Tukka is part of a comprehensive river management plan for the Tapanuli region.

According to him, river management requirements in the area total 30 sabo dams and six sand pockets to be completed in phases over a period of up to four years.

However, specifically for the Aek Tukka River, the Ministry of Public Works has requested that priority work be completed in 2026 so that communities along the river are no longer affected by flooding even during heavy rainfall.

The Government is targeting this construction as part of a stronger and more sustainable sediment control and flood mitigation system.