Hit by "Galodo", Buildings in the Anai Valley Watershed Immediately Ordered

Name: Hit by "Galodo", Buildings in the Anai Valley Watershed Immediately Ordered
Uploaded: 2024-05-17T12:43:01Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The flash floods that claimed lives in the Anai Valley indicate that buildings on the river border are dangerous.

The flash floods that claimed lives in the Anai Valley indicate that buildings on the river border are dangerous.

This article has been translated using AI. See Original .

YOLA SASTRA

· 7 minutes read

FLAT LAND, KOMPAS — After flash floods or galodo, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Agency National Land Affairs will immediately curb illegal buildings in river basins in the Anai Valley Nature Reserve area, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The flash flood that claimed victims in this location indicates that the area is prone to disasters.

"Regarding hotels and mosques (on the riverbank), we will visit the location of these buildings to close them down. If possible, we suggest that the owners dismantle them independently," said Ariodilah Virgantara, Director of Regulation of Spatial Utilization at the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, on Friday (May 17, 2024).

Ariodilah explained that, based on the identification of the Ministry of ATR/BPN, there are dozens of unlicensed buildings constructed on the banks of Batang Anai River in the natural reserve area that falls within the jurisdiction of X Koto District. Several buildings that have attracted attention include a hotel that is currently under construction, a mosque, and Xakapa Cafe.

Xakapa Cafe, which was inaugurated at the end of 2022, along with several other buildings owned by residents, was swept away by flash floods on Saturday (11/5/2024) night. Meanwhile, the framework of the hotel and Hidayatullah Valley Anai Mosque still remains.

"Our team in the field is still coordinating with the provincial government and district government. "It will be executed in the near future," he said.

Also read: As a result of "Galodo", the Padang-Bukittinggi route is still paralyzed

According to Ariodilah, the ministry has been auditing spatial planning in the Anai Valley Nature Reserve since 2017. At that time, several bathing tourist sites were identified in the Mega Mendung Nature Reserve (TWA) that violated regulations.

The Ministry has put up signs stating that it violates the use of spatial planning according to the Regulation of the Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Number 28 of 2015.

Several years ago, the Ministry of ATR/BPN received a complaint from the Water Resources Council (DSDA) Sumbar that there was more massive development, namely a hotel and mosque and the Xakapa Cafe. At the end of 2023, the ministry together with DSDA West Sumatra will review the location.

Also read: The Marapi "Galodo" Tragedy and Weak Points in Disaster Preparedness

In the field, the ministry is discussing and coordinating with the West Sumatra provincial government and Tanah Datar district government to impose administrative sanctions on those buildings. Due to their critical conditions, the ministry is imposing the heaviest sanction, which is demolition and restoration of the function of the space, to instill a deterrent effect.

"The execution is planned to be carried out at the end of May. "However, it hasn't been executed yet, a disaster has already occurred," said Ariodilah.

Separately, Director of Rivers and Coastlines at the Directorate General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Dwi Purwantoro, stated on Tuesday (14/5/2024) that regarding buildings in the border area of the Lembah Anai nature reserve watershed, his department is coordinating with the local government for handling.

"Therefore, because it has already been built, later we will socialize why the river is narrow, thus reducing the wetland of the river. When such a flow (flash flood) occurs, it will restore and ask for its river as before. Whether we like it or not, it must be explained, relocation is necessary," said the speaker.

Also read: The "Galodo" Disaster on Sunday Night

The Galodo which occurred in the Anai Valley Nature Reserve watershed caused the Padang-Bukittinggi National Road to be completely cut off until now. Apart from roads, tourist bathing spots and a number of other business buildings along the river border were also destroyed or washed away by the floodwaters.

The disaster in Lembah Anai also claimed the lives of both motorists and those who were active in the area. According to data from the Padang Class A SAR office on Tuesday (14/5/2024) at 2 pm, 12 bodies were found in the lower part of the Batang Anai district in Padang Pariaman Regency and the city of Padang. In addition, four people in Lembah Anai have yet to be found.

In response to the disaster, the DSDA West Sumatra conveyed three recommendations to those in authority. The first recommendation is to not undertake any development or activities along the Anai Valley Region, except for the implementation of transportation and river channel construction/repair.

"Second, it is necessary to immediately carry out restoration and disaster mitigation in the Lembah Anai area. Third, evaluate the status of the function of the Mega Mendung Nature Tourism Park area," said Daily Chairman of DSDA Sumbar Fathol Bari last Thursday.

Regent of Tanah Datar, Eka Putra, said that regarding the illegal buildings on the border of the Anai Valley Nature Reserve Watershed, the local government has already issued three warning letters to the building owners. "As for the execution, we leave it to the authorities, namely the central and provincial governments. We do not have the authority," he said.

Second, it is necessary to immediately carry out disaster restoration and mitigation in the Anai Valley area.

Head of the West Sumatra Walhi Environmental Advocacy Department, Tommy Adam, said that since 2022, his party has reminded the government regarding the disaster risk faced by illegal buildings along the Anai Valley Nature Reserve watershed. This location has a history of large galodos in 1892 and 1904.

However, said Tommy, controlling the buildings, especially the Xakapa hotel and cafe, had not been carried out until the galodo occurred on Saturday night. The hotel is in another use area, while the Xakapa Cafe is in a protected forest. The existence of these two buildings is considered to have triggered other buildings to appear there.

In addition, hotels and cafes also gather people for a long time. However, the Disaster Management Act prohibits the gathering of people in disaster-prone areas for a long time. "What we have been warning about for a long time has finally happened," Tommy said.

Tommy assessed that there has been negligence despite multiple warning letters issued by the government to building owners. The disaster that claimed lives in Lembah Anai should have been a moment for the government to carry out restructuring and restoration of spatial functions.

"We hope that the building will be demolished, not just sealed. The government should not be afraid of the supporters. It has been an extraordinary discussion and meeting process to reach this point of closure due to the tremendous influence of the supporters," he said.

Tommy added that in order to maintain the integrity of the function of the Anai Valley and prevent the emergence of illegal buildings, the APL and TWA areas should be restored to their function as protected forest and nature reserve.

The Head of the Conservation Section of Regional II of the Natural Resource Conservation Center (BKSDA) in West Sumatra, Eka Dhamayanti, stated that there are three statuses of areas in the border of the Anai Valley Nature Reserve watershed, namely conservation (nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary), protected forests, and other usage areas. Specifically for bathing tourism sites, their location is in the Mega Mendung Wildlife Sanctuary.

Eka continued, based on the identification of the West Sumatra BKSDA, there are nine blocks/groups of unlicensed business actors in the TWA area, namely 5 bathhouses, 1 homestay, 2 restaurants and 1 rest area. . The West Sumatra BKSDA did not issue the business permit because it did not meet environmental aspects.

"After the disaster, we have closed the area (TWA) in accordance with Government Regulation Number 28 of 2011. If there is a risk that can endanger, we are allowed to close the area and we have announced it through the announcement of the Balai KSDA Number 1 of 2024," he said.

Additionally, according to Eka, the West Sumatra BKSDA also sent a warning letter to business owners within the Mega Mendung TWA area to cease all activities on site.

The West Sumatra BKSDA also reported the disaster to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to ask for guidance, including on the possibility of conducting a study to evaluate the suitability of TWA Mega Mendung's function. TWA Mega Mendung was previously designated through Agriculture Minister Decision No. 174 / Kpts / Um / 3/1974 for an area of 12.5 hectares.

Regarding the recommendation to restore the status of the TWA to a nature reserve, Eka said that it is possible based on regulations. There is a mechanism for evaluating the suitability of the area, assessing whether it still meets the criteria for TWA designation or not.

"When it does not comply with the set criteria, it is possible to re-evaluate and change its function according to the appropriate criteria to support optimal management," he said.

Editor:

HARIS FIRDAUS

Hit by "Galodo", Buildings in the Anai Valley Watershed Immediately Ordered

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