Medan Mayor Responds to Flooding and Streetlight Complaints in Medan Barat Community Dialogue

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Medan Mayor, Rico Waas, responded to a series of public complaints during the "Sapa Warga" citizen dialogue held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, on Jalan Karya II, Karang Berombak Village, Medan Barat District. The forum served as a direct communication platform between the city administration and residents, with discussions dominated by flooding concerns, infrastructure issues, and public service disruptions.

Residents voiced serious concerns over recurring floods that inundated residential areas, in some cases reaching adult chest height. One resident, Arifin, said the experience had left a lasting emotional impact.

"In my entire life, I have never seen water rise this high. It was traumatic. What concrete solutions do you, as the mayor, have to ensure this suffering does not happen again?" he asked.

Urban Drainage and Environmental Pressures Under Scrutiny

In response, Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas explained that the major flooding events at the end of last year had affected 19 districts across Medan due to extreme weather conditions. He also pointed to land-use changes and the condition of the three main rivers-Sungai Deli, Sungai Belawan, and Sungai Percut-which have yet to undergo full normalization.

Although river management falls under the authority of the Balai Wilayah Sungai (BWS) Sumatra II of Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the mayor emphasized that the municipal government remains actively involved by pushing for acceleration efforts and coordinating with the central government.

He added that the city is continuing to optimize its own capacity, particularly through improvements to drainage systems and the construction of retention ponds supported by the World Bank.

Waste Mismanagement and Drainage Blockages

The mayor also highlighted additional issues affecting drainage performance, including damaged intersection structures within the drainage network and improper waste disposal by some residents.

Officials from the Dinas SDABMBK reportedly discovered unusual waste inside drainage channels, including plastic waste, tires, pillows, mattresses, and even household appliances such as refrigerators and sofas deliberately dumped into waterways.

"I urge the public to work together in maintaining environmental cleanliness so that the infrastructure built by the city does not go to waste," he said.

Streetlight Outages Reported in Silalas Area

Another complaint came from residents of the Silalas neighborhood, who reported streetlight (LPJU) outages following heavy rainfall. A resident named Ebet said seven streetlights had been non-functional due to damaged cables.

"We have repeatedly reported the streetlight outage, but it has not been repaired," he said.

Mayor Rico Waas immediately instructed the city's Transportation Agency to conduct on-site repairs and replace the damaged cables without delay.

Riverbank Erosion and Safety Risks Highlighted

Retired colonel Hermansyah also raised concerns over riverbank erosion threatening his residence, along with damaged roads and low-hanging electrical cables posing serious safety hazards.

The mayor instructed the Dinas Sumber Daya Air, Bina Marga, dan Bina Konstruksi (SDABMBK) to immediately assess the situation and take necessary action. He also directed the agency to formally request the BWS authority to repair affected inspection roads.

He stressed that the "Sapa Warga" program serves as an important platform for direct engagement with residents, enabling faster identification and resolution of public issues.

Prior to the dialogue session, the mayor also inspected a community clean-up initiative in Medan Barat District, part of the city's broader efforts to promote environmental awareness and urban cleanliness. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala

Rico Waas Opens IPSI Pencak Silat Tournament 2026 in Medan

Medan Faces Controversy Over Rp10 Billion Budget for Police Building Renovation

Medan Education and Culture Festival 2026 Highlights Student Excellence and Innovation

Active Ageing in Medan: Rico Waas Urges Seniors to Stay Inspired and Engaged

Rico Waas Appoints 69 Senior Officials in Major Medan Government Reshuffle

Medan Mayor Supports 2026 Economic Census, Urges Honest Data Submission