PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - Bekasi Regent, Ade Kuswara Kunang attended a meeting with the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to discuss concrete solutions in dealing with flooding in Bekasi Regency.

The meeting, which took place at the PUPR Ministry office, Jakarta, on Monday (17/3/2025), highlighted the impact of land conversion on increasing the risk of flooding.

In the meeting, it was agreed that one of the main steps that must be taken is the reorganization of land that has changed function.

Land that was previously a river basin and rice fields is now widely used for housing and illegal buildings, thus obstructing water flow and worsening flooding conditions in the area.

"The floods that occurred in Bekasi Regency were partly caused by the conversion of land that was not in accordance with its intended use. Therefore, firm steps are needed to reorganize the area," said the Bekasi Regent.

As a follow-up, the Governor of West Java stated that he would issue a gubernatorial regulation to prohibit the conversion of land that is not in accordance with its designation.

Meanwhile, the Bekasi Regency Government (Pemdakab) will coordinate with the PUPR Ministry and related agencies to determine zones that are in accordance with their natural functions.

In addition to discussing land management policies, the meeting also highlighted the importance of a more humane approach in dealing with illegal buildings that have been built in prohibited areas. The Bekasi Regent emphasized that the government would not immediately impose sanctions or fines on the community, but would seek fairer and more sustainable solutions.

Also attending the meeting were Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid, Deputy Minister of PUPR Diana Kusumastuti, and other regional heads from flood-affected areas, such as the Mayor of Bekasi and the Regent of Bogor.
(Bekasi District Government Public Relations/rka)