Bekasi Regency accelerates irrigation normalization to combat drought

The Bekasi Regency Government is accelerating the normalization of irrigation channels to combat drought affecting agricultural lands. In the Kalen Kendal Secondary Channel, approximately 3.5 kilometers of the 7.5-kilometer stretch have been normalized through farmer self-help efforts. Acting Regent Asep Surya Atmaja noted that an additional four kilometers require normalization to ensure water reaches all sections of the northern Bekasi agricultural areas.

To complete the work, the local government will coordinate with several agencies, including Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT), the River Basin Organization (BBWS), and the Department of Agriculture. Coordination meetings are being organized to manage heavy equipment operations and fuel availability.

In the Pebayuran District, authorities are targeting the irrigation of 700 to 800 hectares of rice fields currently suffering from drought. This is being addressed through the ongoing normalization of the Bendung Kedung Gede (BKG) irrigation channel. Once the process, which is currently 50 percent complete, is finished, it is expected to support the second planting season and eventually benefit up to 6,000 hectares of farmland across the district.