The event, held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, commemorated World Water Day and focused on addressing the ongoing challenges and potential solutions in flood management across Indonesia.

In his presentation, Prof. Indratmo emphasized the importance of sustainable flood control strategies, beginning with proper spatial planning—particularly by restoring conservation functions in upstream areas. Uncontrolled land use, he explained, often serves as the primary driver of heightened flood risks in downstream regions. To mitigate this, firm policy enforcement is essential to maintain ecological balance, including the strict application of river border regulations as stipulated in Government Regulation No. 38/2011.

^{Prof. Indratmo presenting his insights on flood control strategies. (Source: Ministry of Public Works and Housing)}
He also pointed out the persistent challenge of maintaining flood management infrastructure. Without sufficient budget allocation, many existing facilities and systems fail to function optimally. To address this, Prof. Indratmo advocated for stronger integration of Grey, Green, and Blue Technologies—an approach that combines engineered infrastructure, natural solutions, and water-based systems—to achieve more sustainable and environmentally friendly outcomes.

Moreover, the role of disaster information systems and community involvement must not be overlooked. Populations living in floodplain areas, particularly those located below sea level, must recognize that flood risk is a constant presence. Fostering early awareness is key to ensuring that communities are better prepared to respond to floods and can adapt to their surrounding environmental conditions.

The comprehensive strategy proposed by Prof. Indratmo is not merely aimed at flood avoidance, but also at enabling communities to coexist with the risks through resilience and adaptation. With a holistic approach that incorporates regulation, technological innovation, and public education, flood management can evolve into a more effective mechanism for building a robust and sustainable environment.

Reporter: Rayhan Adri Fulvian (Geophysics engineering, 2021)
Translator: Malika Fatima Lawe (Microbiology, 2022)