The intensity of the rainfall in early March has caused several areas to be hit by floods and landslides. Fourteen Bekasi Regency districts and seven Bekasi City districts were flooded, affecting 52,000 residents.
Professor Suratman from the UGM Faculty of Geography explained that the flood disaster in Bekasi cannot solely be attributed to high rainfall intensity.
Floods frequently occur during the rainy season, but several factors, including land conversion in water catchment areas, exacerbate their impact.
“Another cause is changes to the Earth’s surface. Rapid population growth leads to increased development, reducing water catchment areas due to irresponsible construction in conservation and water protection zones. This prevents rainwater from being absorbed, resulting in flooding,” he explained on Thursday (Mar. 14).
Professor Suratman expressed concern over the dense construction occurring in the river basin areas in Bekasi. Settlements crowding the basin areas disrupt the natural flow of water.
One potential solution is to restore riverbanks by regulating land use.
“Land meant to serve as a water body should not be converted into new residential areas. Space must be provided for water to remain localized, for example, through urban lakes or reservoirs,” Professor Suratman suggested.
As the Head of UGM’s Environmental and Disaster Mitigation Clinic (KLMB UGM), Professor Suratman highlighted the good practices in water management in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has an effective water management system, which includes regulating ecosystems around river terraces, building embankments, calculating river water discharge, and dredging riverbeds to remove sediment.
These measures are continuously implemented and evaluated to minimize the risk of flooding. Professor Suratman emphasized that river normalization efforts must be strengthened in Indonesia.
The professor also pointed out four key aspects that need attention in flood disaster mitigation: land management, vegetation, water, and human factors.
This management could follow the principle of one river, one plan, one management. For example, it could restore water areas, replant vegetation, integrate recharge wells, and, most importantly, have the government regulate and mitigate these conditions for the community.
“The resilience of river basins in responding to rainfall is critical. Water is a blessing, a part of nature. As humans, we must learn to coexist with water and maintain a balance with nature,” he concluded.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photograph: Antara