Starfruit (malangkota.go.id) – High intensity rain that poured down on Malang City throughout the afternoon until night, Wednesday (8/2/2023) yesterday caused flooding in the De Cluster Nirwana Housing area, Pandanwangi Village, Blimbing District, Malang City.
At least 30 houses were affected by the high water discharge. Even due to the high water level, affected residents, especially children and women, were evacuated using rubber boats.
Responding to the incident, the Mayor of Malang, Drs. H. Sutiaji and the ranks of the Malang City Government (Pemkot) went directly to review the location, Thursday (9/2/2023). On this occasion, the Mayor of Malang also reviewed the rubber factory which is located not far from the housing complex.
The Mayor of Malang explained that he had previously received reports from residents. "Then I immediately moved to ask all ranks to check here (Pandanwangi). So the village head, sub-district head, and assistant checked and then contacted the relevant regional apparatus to take immediate action," he explained.
The first action taken, said Mayor Sutiaji, was how the affected community could be resolved properly. "After that was done, I asked the Malang City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to also find out the origin of it? Because this has been three times of continuous flooding, so the point was immediately traced where it was. And after tracing, it turned out that river normalization was needed," explained Sutiaji.
Officers from the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas Agency (DPUPRPKP) of Malang City, who on this occasion were also deployed equipped with heavy equipment, immediately carried out the process of dredging sediment and garbage around the flood location.
Sutiaji further stated that the river normalization has two steps, namely sediment dredging, and the second is widening. For handling the second area, according to him, it will be coordinated with the Brantas River Basin Center (BBWS).
"And that's what we did, by sending a letter to BBWS. Including later in Sawojajar we will also do the same. So we do not tolerate when there are buildings that obstruct, but the approach is still persuasive, by asking for permission, and we will provide road access because this concerns the livelihood of many people, but all can be facilitated well," he said.
Regarding the existence of buildings standing on rivers, Sutiaji has assigned his staff to check the building permits.
"There are two things that need to be checked at the Licensing (Disnaker-PMPTSP). One is the building (standing on the river), and the second is in the housing. I need to ask the housing (De Cluster Nirwana) to see the site plan and see the documentation. Is this really in accordance with the master plan that has been permitted for the building," he explained further.
The man who is often called Sam Sutiaji said that his party is currently coordinating with the owner who has been given the mandate so that the demolition of buildings on the river can be carried out. "Because there is a narrowing and later normalization will be carried out at the same time," he concluded. (iu/yon)
