West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi urges local leaders in Bandung Raya to promptly revise spatial planning to avert severe environmental damage that could lead to the area's submersion. He stresses the need to pause housing permit issuances until evaluations are complete.
At the IPDN Campus in Sumedang on Tuesday, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi expressed deep concerns about the vulnerability of the Bandung Raya area to environmental disasters. He stated, "We realize that the Bandung Raya region is prone to risks. In other words, Bandung could sink if spatial planning changes are not made right now." This comes amid efforts to prevent threats like flooding and land subsidence from unchecked development.
Mulyadi asked regents and mayors to temporarily halt all housing permit processes, whether new or already issued. "Housing permits that are about to be processed and those already granted should be paused first, with spatial planning evaluations conducted so they do not pose high risks to the future environment," he said. Every housing project must adhere to strict requirements, such as those in Bandung Regency mandating wells or small lakes to capture rainwater.
Furthermore, he urged the Nusantara Plantation Limited Company (PTPN) to coordinate with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency to expedite extensions for expired location permits. This aims to protect potential lands from arbitrary takeover, ensuring soil functions as forest cover. Thus, Bandung Raya's spatial planning can be safeguarded against future disasters.