PRR Task Force Strengthens Mitigation-Based Spatial Planning in 3 Sumatran Regions

Permanent post-disaster recovery in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra is not solely aimed at rebuilding houses, roads, bridges, and public facilities affected by the disaster. More than that, recovery must also ensure that affected areas are reorganised to be safer from future disaster risks. This approach is part of the Master Plan for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Post-Disaster Sumatra (Renduk PRRP) 2026-2028, which places spatial planning as a crucial foundation for rebuilding the affected regions. Through this approach, rehabilitation and reconstruction are not only seen as physical recovery but also as an opportunity to improve development patterns to be more resilient. The Renduk PRRP directs spatial planning through the integration of Disaster Risk Zones into provincial and district/city spatial planning documents. This policy includes adjusting spatial structures and patterns, controlling land use in high-risk areas, relocating permanent housing from vulnerable locations, and strengthening legal certainty over land for affected communities. The Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) for Post-Disaster Sumatra considers this approach essential to ensure that residents who lost their homes not only receive new housing but can also live in areas that are safer, more liveable, and have access to basic services. Therefore, the determination of permanent housing locations must consider the level of disaster risk, watershed conditions, river boundaries, and conformity with Regional Spatial Plans and Detailed Spatial Plans. Beyond settlements, spatial reconstruction also serves as the basis for rebuilding public infrastructure. Roads, bridges, irrigation networks, drainage, embankments, educational facilities, health facilities, and public service centres need to be constructed with consideration for environmental characteristics and potential disaster risks so they are not vulnerable to extreme weather events. Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency Nusron Wahid stressed the importance of a thorough evaluation of spatial planning in the disaster-affected areas of Sumatra. He stated that spatial plans in the affected regions need to be redesigned to be more resilient to disasters. ‘Regarding the total evaluation of regional spatial plans in Sumatra, especially in the three provinces affected by floods. Future spatial plans must be redesigned to be more resilient to disasters. Why? Because it turns out these spatial plans have been proven not to have a disaster mitigation dimension,’ Nusron said in a written statement on Monday. Nusron added that recovery is not sufficient if it only involves physical reconstruction. He said the reconstruction phase must be a momentum to improve spatial planning, including reviewing the function of areas that have served as water catchment buffers. By strengthening risk-based spatial planning, the PRR Task Force ensures that rebuilding in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra proceeds in a more directed, safe, and sustainable manner. ‘The moment is when reconstruction has started, then we will think about not only physical reconstruction but also spatial reconstruction. Besides physical rehabilitation, also spatial rehabilitation,’ he concluded.