Suspected Diversion for Bintaro Xchange Mall Leaves Ciputat River Black and Stagnant

The flow of the Ciputat River, located in Bintaro Jaya Sector 7, Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, has been cut off and is suspected of being repurposed to become the Bintaro Jaya Xchange (BXc) Mall. This was discovered during a field inspection by the Special Committee (Pansus) for the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) of the South Tangerang City DPRD, related to spatial planning and flood control, on Tuesday (21/4/2026). Based on observations by Kompas.com at the site, the river in question is located directly across from Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ) and near the Rumah Go’A cafe. The Pansus Chairman, Ahmad Syawqi, stated that there are indications of changes to the river’s flow, which should have passed through the Bintaro Xchange Mall area, but instead veers off. “Yesterday we found changes to the river flow in the riverbed in Pondok Aren,” said Syawqi when contacted by Kompas.com via WhatsApp on Thursday (23/4/2026). Upon tracing, the river’s flow turns towards Jurangmangu Station and heads to the Pondok Aren area. However, according to Syawqi, the river’s flow should have directed towards the area now occupied by the Bintaro Xchange Mall. “That’s Maharta and the surrounding areas, which also flood. That’s the effect on northern Pondok Aren, because that’s the Ciputat River flow,” he said. “The effect is obvious; it’s a river flow with high discharge during heavy rainfall,” he explained. Therefore, they have summoned three representatives from Jaya Real Property (JRP) for a Hearing of Opinions (RDP) at the South Tangerang DPRD Building on Wednesday (22/4/2026). In the meeting, said Syawqi, they requested documents related to asset handovers, including the area of replacement land amounting to approximately 35,000 square metres.