Jakarta:President Prabowo Subianto has prioritized the acceleration of river restoration as a key measure in post-disaster recovery efforts across the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. This decision was made during a limited cabinet meeting at Merdeka Palace on Monday.

According to Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, who leads the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, reported that 41 flood events have occurred in these provinces from April to October 2026. These events have damaged previously repaired infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

Minister Karnavian highlighted that 137 rivers have been impacted, with specific numbers being 31 in Aceh, 48 in North Sumatra, and 58 in West Sumatra. The government is overseeing the management of 38 river mouths with seven restoration sites completed, 11 underway, and 20 yet to begin.

The Ministry of Public Works will spearhead the restoration efforts, with support from regional governments, the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), and the National Police (Polri). The regional governments are encouraged to utilize allocated funds for the projects and fortify embankments.

Additionally, weather modification operations are being prepared to mitigate extreme rainfall risks. The TNI and Polri are tasked with clearing river sediment and building embankments. Emergency response status can be reinstated by regional governments if necessary, facilitating quicker budget use and emergency operations.

President Prabowo has assured budget support for immediate action, enabling ministries and agencies to initiate preparations and bidding processes for early-year project commencement.