Banjarmasin Deputy Mayor confirms buildings on river to be regulated

Banjarmasin City, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Banjarmasin Deputy Mayor Hj Ananda stated that the city government will take firm action to regulate buildings on river to curb flooding that consider a serious threat to the city.

"There will be no more tolerance for buildings that disrupt river and drainage function," she emphasized here on Monday.

As a serious step, the city government has issued a Circular Letter No. 160 of 2026 concerning Arrangement and Regulation of Buildings on River Areas, River Bodies, and Drainage.

Ananda urges sub-district heads and urban village heads as the government's frontline representative in the community to take responsibility to ensure the smooth flow of rivers in their areas.

"As instructed by the Mayor, all sub-district heads and urban village heads are asked to intensify gotong royong (mutual cooperation) for river clean up and dredging by inviting neighborhood (RT) and community (RW) administrators and residents, both using tools or manually, in turn," she pointed out.

She highlighted some residents who still construct buildings on riverbanks and waterways, which often becomes a major obstacle to flood mitigation.

"So, I urge residents to understand that maintaining and preserving rivers is not just the government's responsibility, but the responsibility of everyone living in Banjarmasin," she emphasized.

The continued prevalence of buildings encroaching on riverbanks will be a particular concern for the city government, especially with the approval of a new circular that will serve as the legal basis for building restrictions in water catchment areas.

Read also: Banjarmasin continues normalizing rivers to alleviate floods

"If they continue to misbehave, Banjarmasin City Government will not hesitate to cut off water and electricity supply to the buildings," she warned.

"Buildings that encroach on river banks without complying with regulations must be regulated because it is the public's right to keep their surroundings free from flooding," Ananda said.

She hopes for the village head's sensitivity and involvement in addressing the increasingly recurring flooding conditions. She understands that this occurs due to years of neglect and lack of oversight.