"We need to find out what has caused this flash flood, since several districts are affected, so this has, by default, come under the jurisdiction of the provincial authorities aided by the central government," Karnavian, who was accompanied by TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, remarked while reviewing the handling of floods in North Konawe on Saturday.
He highlighted the importance of getting universities involved in studying environmental conditions to expose the root cause of the problem of flooding in North Konawe.
"Moreover, form a credible team of consultants to study the environment. We have to identify the root cause of the problem, as the current flash flood is quite major and has impacted life for quite long," he noted.
"Rain conditions like this rarely occur for days. Furthermore, there is absence of a water distribution system. If this occurs, then a solution needs to be found, perhaps in the form of building a canalization system or a big dam, so that in the event of a flood, nothing is impacted, and all are accommodated," he emphasized.
He conjectured that the flood could have occurred due to a decline in the environment's carrying capacity, taking into account the fact that the vast Southeast Sulawesi region had drawn investment in various fields, including mining.
"It also holds huge mining potential, so several people are keen to invest here. There are no issues pertaining to land clearance or mining, as it can be a source of local revenue and can also be beneficial to the community. However, the AMDAL (environmental impact analysis) must be conducted first, so it does not change the function of the area or harm the environment," he added.
Translator: Hernawan/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
