Whilst, the long-term (flooding) mitigation will be carried out by the PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing) Ministry along with the Semarang city government by constructing a river floodway.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy has suggested a number of short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to overcome flooding in Semarang City, Central Java Province.

According to a statement released on Thursday, he made the suggestions during a ministerial coordination meeting on Semarang City’s post-flood handling at the headquarters of the coordinating ministry here.

He said that the short-term measures include improving and strengthening river embankments, meanwhile, the medium-term measures involve normalizing the river.

The implementation of short-term solutions aims to prevent potential flooding during the 2023 rainy season, the coordinating minister continued.

"Whilst, the long-term (flooding) mitigation will be carried out by the PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing) Ministry along with the Semarang City Government by constructing a river floodway,” he stated.

The realization of the long-term solution is expected to permanently resolve flooding problems in Semarang, especially in the Puri Dinar Indah Housing Complex, Meteseh Village, Tembalang Sub-district.

On Tuesday (January 31, 2023), Effendy visited the housing complex and said that the government will immediately coordinate and discuss the attempts to mitigate flooding.

He noted that the river embankment should be thickened because it is too thin and was built a long time ago.

Furthermore, the minister said that the river basin area should be revitalized by dredging sediments in the river and normalizing the flow of the river so that it does not inundate settlements when there is a downpour.

He added that he will immediately coordinate with PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to send heavy equipment assistance to help the city government revitalize the river.

During his visit, Effendy also handed over Rp15 million in compensation to the heir of a deceased flood victim and distributed food packages to residents affected by the floods.

Head for emergency measures at the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Semarang, Adhy Yulianto had informed on January 7, 2022, that a male resident of Puri Dinar Indah Housing Complex, aged 60 years old, had passed away in the disaster.

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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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