Gaps in Bekasi River Embankments Revealed, Blamed for Floods
BEKASI, KOMPAS.com – The Cileungsi-Cikeas River Care Community (KP2C) has identified a number of embankment points that are holes and not connected along the Bekasi River. This condition is seen as one of the flood triggers in Bekasi City.
The findings were shared during a river-walk activity with the Ciliwung Cisadane River Basin Authority (BBWS Ciliwung Cisadane), the Commission II of the Bekasi City Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), and residents, on Thursday (5 March 2026).
“We are trying to see what exactly causes floods in Bekasi City. And it turns out there are still several embankments that are not connected,” Puarman said at the site.
Kompas.com observations at the site show the river-walk starting from KP2C’s Observation Post in Perumahan Pondok Gede Permai (PGP), Jatiasih, then continuing to Kemang IFI Graha, Pondok Mitra Lestari, Perumahan Kemang Pratama, and Delta Pekayon.
Additionally, in RT 06 and RT 09 RW 07 in the same housing complex there are embankments not connected for 219 metres, as well as holes beneath the old embankment in RT 01 and RT 02 RW 07 AL.
In Kampung Lebak RW 05 Jatirasa, KP2C found a leaking water gate and still using a valve model, and a growong sluice under Gedung Girsang.
Meanwhile, at the Pondok Mitra Lestari Gate RW 05 there is an embankment not connected for 497 metres.
According to Puarman, although the Bekasi River normalisation project has been completed, the existence of unconnected embankments means flood-control functions are not fully optimal.
“Yet like a cruise ship, no matter how well it is built, if there are holes in some places it does not function properly,” he said.
He explained that the Bekasi River is where the Cileungsi River and the Cikeas River meet. When the upstream flow from Bogor Regency increases, the volume of water in the Bekasi River also rises and risks overflowing into nearby settlements.
“When the Bekasi River discharge is high, the housing on either side is at risk of flooding. Especially since there are several points where the embankments are not connected,” Puarman said.
He emphasised that the flooding problem in Bekasi cannot be solved piecemeal because the water source originates upstream. Therefore, management must be undertaken comprehensively from upstream to downstream.
“Bekasi cannot stand alone. Its river originates upstream in Bogor Regency. So the problem must be resolved at the national level as well. Upstream solved, middle solved, downstream solved,” he said.