Task Force PRR Normalises Dozens of Rivers and Estuaries Affected by Disaster

The Task Force (Satgas) for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) post-disaster in Sumatra has recorded significant progress in the normalisation of rivers and estuaries affected by hydrometeorological disasters in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar). Based on Satgas PRR data as of 5 April, 38 out of a total of 79 affected national rivers in the three provinces have been successfully normalised by the central government, equivalent to 48%. On the other hand, local governments have normalised 16 out of 43 affected regional rivers, or 37%. In Aceh, the central government has successfully normalised 13 out of 24 affected national rivers, while the local government has completed two out of seven regional rivers. In Sumut, four out of 23 national rivers have been normalised by the central government, while the local government has handled ten out of 25 regional rivers. The greatest progress is recorded in Sumbar, where 21 out of 32 affected national rivers have been successfully normalised. Four out of 11 regional rivers in the province have also been addressed by the local government. Normalisation of estuaries is also showing development, although it still requires greater effort. Out of a total of 38 affected estuaries in the three provinces, 10 have been completed, or 26%, while the remaining 28 are still in the handling process. Chair of Satgas PRR, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, previously explained that most rivers in the affected areas have experienced shallowing due to sedimentation and need to be addressed immediately. The damage conditions on the ground vary, from heavy sedimentation, embankment damage, to changes in river courses. He emphasised that this normalisation process cannot be completed in a short time. The estimated completion time is at least two to three years. “We remember the BRR (Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency) era, which took 5 years to complete, plus a 3-year transition. Now, there are 79 rivers being worked on by the central government, and the regions are handling 43. (The central government has worked on) 38, (local governments are handling) 16, and there are still some that haven’t been addressed,” he said in a written statement on Thursday (9/4). Nevertheless, Tito stated the Satgas’s commitment to continue accelerating the handling. If sedimentation is left too long, blocked rivers and estuaries have the potential to worsen flooding in the surrounding areas. “Estuaries also need to be normalised; if not, the water will be blocked. There are 38 estuaries alone, and they are not small, they are extensive. In Aceh Tamiang alone, the President (Prabowo Subianto) has directly assigned to the Minister of Defence (Syafrie Sjamsoeddin) and the Deputy Commander of the TNI (General Tandyo Budi Revit). For that, 4 km that was cleaned is very extensive,” he concluded.