Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works has commenced recovery work on 38 estuaries damaged by floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, with completion targeted for October 2027 at the latest.Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo emphasized customized technical approaches to each estuary, highlighting their varied morphology, sedimentation, and tidal influence.“Most of the affected estuaries require dredgers for revitalization, especially those harboring major rivers that experienced severe shallowing due to post-disaster sedimentation,” he said in a statement cited in Jakarta on Tuesday.He said the Ministry of Public Works is committed to the swift recovery of the estuaries as part of efforts to strengthen water resource infrastructure and reduce risks of flooding and sedimentation in downstream areas.The minister highlighted that last November’s major disasters impacted 25 estuaries falling within the central government’s jurisdiction and 13 others overseen by provincial authorities. To ensure rapid work, the ministry has decided to handle all the estuaries in collaboration with local administrations.Hanggodo went on to say that as of February 16, the overall work had progressed to 35.5 percent on average, with estuaries managed by the central government reaching 40 percent completion, while those overseen by provincial administrations were at 31 percent.Apart from local governments, he said the ministry is coordinating with a task force established by the Ministry of Defense to deepen and normalize the impacted estuaries, reflecting cross-institutional synergy aimed at effectiveness.Elaborating on technical measures, the minister mentioned dredging and channel deepening using long-arm excavators, amphibious excavators, pontoon-based heavy machinery, and dredging vessels, tailored to the unique characteristics and conditions of each location.He added that recovery efforts also include river flow normalization, the reinforcement of cliffs, and the development of sediment control infrastructure, noting that the initiative is focused on estuaries deemed vital for local economies.The estuary program, he continued, is part of the government’s infrastructure-based disaster mitigation strategy designed to bolster regional resilience against extreme weather and climate change, ultimately enhancing safety and protection for residents.