PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - Acting Regent of Bekasi, Dr. Asep Surya Atmaja, directly reviewed the progress of the normalization of the Secondary Channel (SS) of the Kedung Gede Dam (BKG), Pebayuran District, Bekasi Regency, Tuesday (2/9/2026).

The review was conducted to ensure the acceleration of the normalization of irrigation channels which is expected to overcome the problem of drought in the downstream area, especially the BKG 34 to BKG 38 channels.

During his visit, Asep inspected three points, namely BKG 15, BKG 17, and BKG 20. At BKG 15, water hyacinth remains were still found which required further cleaning.

Meanwhile, in BKG 17, the condition of the canal has improved significantly. The water hyacinth that previously covered the canal's surface has been removed.

Meanwhile, at BKG 20, heavy equipment is still carrying out work in the form of building embankments and deepening channels.

"The progress in the two weeks since I came here has seen significant progress," said Asep Surya Atmaja.

According to him, deepening the channel in BKG 20 is a crucial part of efforts to increase water storage capacity. With greater capacity, water flow to downstream areas is expected to increase.

"In the future, it will be able to accommodate a large volume of water. The goal is for the water to flow to BKG 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38, which are locations with limited water," he explained.

Asep Surya Atmaja targets normalization work in the Rancasuar area, SS Kedung Gede, to be completed within the next month.

"Hopefully, within a month, it will be clear in the Rancasuar area at SS Kedung Gede," he said.

He said the normalization of the channel was an anticipatory measure by the local government in dealing with the impacts of climate change, both during the dry and rainy seasons.

"So that in the future we can ensure that during the dry season we are not hit by drought and during the rainy season we are not hit by floods," he stressed.

During the inspection, Asep Surya Atmaja was accompanied by officials from Perum Jasa Tirta II and related agencies within the Bekasi Regency Government.

At the same location, Pebayuran Sub-district Head Hasyim Adnan expressed his appreciation to the Bekasi Regency Government for its steps to normalize the irrigation channel.

"We, on behalf of the Pebayuran community, express our gratitude for what the Bekasi Regency Government and the Acting Regent of Bekasi have done," said Hasyim.

He hopes that the normalization will soon have an impact on the community, considering that drought is currently hitting Karangharja Village, especially the BKG 38 area.

"Because the current drought conditions are affecting Karangharja Village, especially in BKG 38, which is experiencing drought today, hopefully in the near future, water will be sufficient," he concluded.

For your information, SS BKG 15–16 is located in Bantarjaya Village. BKG 17–25 runs through rice fields towards Karangharja and Karangsegar Villages. Meanwhile, BKG 38 is located in Teluk Bango Hamlet, Karangharja Village, which is the northern end of the irrigation canal in Pebayuran District.

(Bekasi Regency Communications and Information Service/rka)