PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has requested that the normalization of the 16-kilometer Cikarang Bekasi Laut (CBL) River in Bekasi Regency be completed this year to reduce the risk of flooding.

Dedi made the request while reviewing the normalization work with Bekasi Regent Asep Surya Atmaja in Sriamur Village, North Tambun District, Monday (26/10/2026).

The project, which crosses Cibitung, North Tambun, and Sukawangi Districts, still has about one kilometer remaining, requiring an additional budget of around IDR 2 billion.

"It must be completed this year. How much will the remaining funds be? The Rp2 billion will be completed by Bekasi Regency alone," Dedi stressed.

Dedi asked the Bekasi Regency Government to immediately resolve the budget shortfall so that the normalization of the CBL River can be completed on target and the river's flow capacity can be increased.

Three Bridges of Interest

In addition to river normalization, Dedi highlighted three bridges in Sriamur Village which were considered to have the potential to impede the flow of water to the CBL River.

He stated that he was ready to help rebuild the bridge after its demolition to ensure smoother river flow.

"I've been preparing equipment to remove the mud for weeks. Now, let's just dismantle the bridges. After that, we'll start building the bridges straight away," he said.

Dedi also expressed his readiness to help normalize the Dead River in Sukamekar Village, Sukawangi District, which has experienced sedimentation to the point that part of its flow has been converted into a community garden.

Restoring the river is necessary to restore its function as a water channel and to support irrigation of the community's agricultural land.

"We're relocating this house and replacing it with a new building. After that, we'll normalize it together. We'll have a meeting on the 30th to resolve this issue. This is an emergency, and we can't predict future rainfall. We'll use the BTT budget. If it's not completed this year, we'll continue next year," he said.

Bekasi Regency Government Prepares Budget Settlement

Bekasi Regent Asep Surya Atmaja welcomed the West Java Provincial Government's support in accelerating flood management and ensuring that the budget needed for normalizing the CBL River is immediately resolved.

"We will complete the normalization of the CBL River this year and we will immediately resolve the budget shortfall this year, so that the normalization of the CBL River from Cikarang to the Bekasi River confluence can be completed," said Asep.

He also supports the gradual normalization of the Dead River from Sukamekar Village, Sukawangi District, to Cabangbungin District to restore the river's function and support agricultural irrigation.

"Hopefully, this will be implemented well. For the affected homes, the Governor and I will be preparing a solution. The important thing is that the Mati River can function again," he hoped.

Accelerating the normalization of the CBL and Mati Rivers is expected to increase river flow capacity, reduce sedimentation, and reduce the risk of recurring flooding in Bekasi Regency.

"God willing, when the flood arrives, the discharge will decrease and the flooding will be more controllable," he concluded.

(Bekasi Regency Communications and Information Service/bhf)