"We have 1,100 people here to continue the clean-up that began several days ago," he said in Denpasar.
He highlighted that the activity brought together soldiers, police officers, students, online motorcycle taxi drivers, non-governmental organizations, pencak silat communities, and local residents to restore the environment after the Badung River overflowed on Wednesday (September 10).
Starting at 7:30 a.m. local time, the clean-up targeted areas around Kumbasari Market and Badung Market, along Sulawesi Street.
According to Nurofiq, 84 tons of waste and debris had been collected as of Sunday, with projections that the figure could rise by another 210 tons in the coming days. He stressed the importance of cleaning rivers, unclogging drainage canals, and preparing for further rainfall.
He said the Environment Ministry had allowed the Bali provincial government to dispose of the waste at Suwung Landfill. "We have told Governor Wayan Koster to bring the waste to Suwung Landfill for proper treatment because this is an emergency," he noted.
The minister also urged local officials to adopt a comprehensive approach to waste management, emphasizing that the flooding should serve as a warning for stakeholders to strengthen mitigation efforts.
In that context, he underlined that Bali needs to restore 14 thousand hectares of forest cover in the headwaters of rivers leading to Denpasar City and Badung District to improve drainage.
"Only three percent of upstream areas are currently covered by forest. Hence, the local government is working to plant more trees there within three years in collaboration with other parties," Nurofiq elaborated.
Regarding downstream areas, the minister called for improvements in waste and riparian zone management to minimize the risk of heavy rainfall triggering floods.
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Translator: Ni Putu, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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