Govt Pushes River, Estuary Normalization in Sumatra to Curb Flood Risks

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government’s task force for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra has reported steady progress in river and estuary normalization efforts across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra following recent hydrometeorological disasters.

Data released on April 5, 2026, show that out of 79 national rivers affected, 38 have been successfully normalized, representing 48 percent of the total. At the regional level, 16 of 43 rivers have been normalized by local administrations, or 37 percent.

In Aceh, 13 of 24 national rivers and two of seven regional rivers have been restored. North Sumatra recorded progress on four of 23 national rivers and 10 of 25 regional rivers. Meanwhile, West Sumatra achieved normalization on 21 of 32 national rivers and four of 11 regional rivers.

The task force also noted progress in estuary rehabilitation. Of the 38 estuaries impacted, 10 have been normalized, while the remaining 28 are still undergoing work.

Task force chair Muhammad Tito Karnavian emphasized that sedimentation has caused severe shallowing in many rivers, requiring long-term normalization. He warned that conditions vary widely, from heavy sedimentation to damaged embankments and altered river courses, making the process complex and time-consuming.

Tito estimated that full normalization could take two to three years, drawing comparisons with the Aceh-Nias rehabilitation program that lasted five years plus a three-year transition.

“I estimate the fastest would be two years, maybe three. We remember the Aceh-Nias rehabilitation took five years, plus three years of transition. Now we have 79 rivers handled by the central government and 43 by local administrations. Thirty-eight have been completed by the central government, 16 by local administrations, and many are still pending,” Tito said in Jakarta, March 23.

Quoting the Home Affairs Ministry’s official website, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the government reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating river and estuary normalization in disaster-affected regions of Sumatra.

The ministry stressed that the program is not only about infrastructure recovery but also about safeguarding communities from recurring floods and long-term environmental risks.

Despite the challenges, Tito stressed the urgency of accelerating the work to prevent worsening floods. “Estuaries also need to be normalized, otherwise water flow will be blocked. There are 38 estuaries, and they are not small -- they are vast,” he said.

The normalization program is seen as critical to reducing disaster risks in Sumatra’s vulnerable regions. Authorities remain committed to ensuring that rivers and estuaries are restored swiftly to safeguard communities from future flooding. ***