Ministry of Public Works Allocates Tens of Billions in Budget to Address Bali Floods, Focusing on Denpasar

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Public Works has allocated a budget of tens of billions of rupiah to address flooding in several areas of Bali. The response includes emergency measures up to the construction of permanent infrastructure. Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti stated that the flooding in Bali poses a serious challenge. This situation has been triggered by high rainfall intensity in recent times. “On land, the very real challenge is flooding. This condition is influenced by extreme rain with intensities of 148 to 250 mm per day and a duration of around five hours,” said Diana during a Working Meeting with Commission V of the DPR RI at the Parliament Building, Senayan, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). “The flood discharge can reach 239,974 cubic metres per second, while the river capacity is only around 220 cubic metres per second. This means the incoming water far exceeds the river system’s capacity to hold it,” she explained. This condition has caused water overflows at various points. Flooding has been recorded on Jalan Ratna and Tukad Badung in Denpasar, as well as the Dewa Ruci underpass. The government has implemented emergency responses at 37 locations. These measures include cleaning rubbish, repairing embankments, and dredging river sediments. The government is also preparing a master plan for flood control in Denpasar, with a completion target set for 2026. Budgets for infrastructure construction and rehabilitation have been prepared for three regions. Denpasar City receives Rp10.89 billion, Jembrana Regency Rp37.28 billion, and Buleleng Regency Rp38.4 billion. “Permanent handling is carried out through the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure in those three locations, targeted for completion in October 2026,” said Diana. “We are proceeding on three layers: emergency handling in the field, preparation of the master plan, and construction of permanent infrastructure with measurable outputs,” she emphasised. Major flooding has occurred since the end of 2025 to the beginning of 2026. Extreme rainfall is the main trigger. The situation is worsened by environmental issues. Rubbish clogs drainage channels and river flows. The inadequate drainage system also exacerbates the situation, particularly in dense areas like Denpasar and Badung.