Banyuwangi Regency Government Involves Many Parties to Mitigate Floods that Often Occur in Indonesia

BANYUWANGI – Welcoming the rainy season, Banyuwangi Regency Government held a meeting with various parties to arrange flood mitigation measures. The coordination meeting, which was chaired by Acting Regional Secretary of Banyuwangi Guntur Priambodo, involved various parties who have an important role in the upstream area of Banyuwangi.

Held on Monday (9/12/2024), the meeting was attended by representatives from the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) as well as technical regional organisations (OPD) such as the CKPP Public Works Office (PU), Irrigation PU, DLH, and BPBD. Also present were representatives from Perhutani Western Region, PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal, Lidjen Plantation, and Kalibendo Plantation.

“We are aware of this very serious risk of flooding. Moreover, December and January will be the peak of the rainy season. We have to move in synergy to take preventive measures, especially in the upstream area,” said Guntur.

Guntur said he expects all parties to work together to mitigate. Relevant OPDs such as DLH, CKPP PU, dan Irrigation PU are requested to clean the drainage channels, including in the upstream area, as well as dredging rivers and opening sluice glates.

The meeting also reported various steps taken by other parties to mitigate flooding. For example, Lidjen Plantation has made roraks or trenches to prevent rainwater run-off from going directly downstream.

Kalibendo Plantation has made a ditch so that material from above does not flow directly down. Thus, the potential for flash floods can be anticipated.

Meanwhile, PT Medco, which cleared the land for the power line this year, reported that it has cleared the wood from the land clearing. 95 per cent of the felled wood has been cleared.

“The study results show that flooding is likely to occur due to the above activities. But, they have reported mitigation measures,” said Guntur.

He hopes that with anticipation and mitigation measures, the potential for flash floods that usually occur in the Banyuwangi area can be anticipated. All parties are asked to be alerted and work together to prevent it.

“We all need to be alerted as flooding has started in some areas,” he added.