Indonesia to Conduct Comprehensive Spatial Planning Evaluation Following Devastating Floods

Background and Motivation

The recent floods and landslides in Aceh and North Sumatra have prompted the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), to initiate a thorough evaluation of the spatial planning in the affected regions. This decision comes as the country grapples with the aftermath of the natural disasters that have claimed hundreds of lives.

Minister's Statement

Minister Nusron Wahid highlighted that spatial planning and its functionality are highly dynamic and need to be assessed annually. The evaluation aims to determine whether the planning was accurate and if its implementation was carried out correctly. Wahid pointed out that discrepancies can occur either due to incorrect planning or faulty implementation. The minister stressed the need for a meticulous examination of the Spatial Planning (RTRW) at the regency/city level to identify these discrepancies.

Evaluation Process

The ATR/BPN will conduct a detailed assessment of the RTRW in each affected regency and city. This process will involve checking if the planning was correct but the implementation was flawed, or if the planning itself was incorrect. The evaluation will help in understanding the root causes of the failures in spatial planning that may have contributed to the severity of the recent disasters.

Implications

The outcome of this evaluation is expected to provide valuable insights into how spatial planning can be improved to prevent or mitigate the impact of future natural disasters. It will also help in formulating better policies and practices for spatial planning and management in Indonesia.