The Problem of Flooding in Medan City

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 135 views

Land Acquisition for the Public Interest: Overcoming Challenges and Opportunities in Canal Projects

Introduction

Land acquisition for public interest projects, such as canal construction, is a complex and challenging process. It involves the interests of many parties, including the government, landowners, and the community. In this article, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities in land procurement for canal projects, using the case study of Medan City, Indonesia.

The Problem of Flooding in Medan City

Medan City, like many other big cities, faces serious environmental problems, one of which is routine floods that occur every rainy season. Flooding is not only materially detrimental, but also causes trauma and discomfort for the community. The main cause of flooding in Medan is the overflow of the Deli River, which flows in the middle of the city. When it rains heavily, the river is unable to accommodate increased water discharge, so that water overflows into residential areas.

Proposed Solution: Building a Canal

One of the proposed solutions to overcome floods in Medan is to build a canal, which in this study is known as Flood Way. This canal will function to drain some water from the Deli River to the Percut River during the rainy season, thereby reducing the burden of the Deli River and minimizing the risk of flooding. This project requires 19 hectares of land, most of which are in residential areas, agriculture, and even industry.

Challenges in Land Procurement

Land procurement for this canal project is a challenge, because it involves the interests of many parties. Presidential Decree Number 55 of 1993 concerning Land Procurement for the Public Interest regulates this land procurement process, but in practice, there are still many obstacles encountered.

Obstacles in Land Procurement of Canal Projects

Research shows that the deliberation process to determine the value of land compensation does not reach an agreement. The community legally accepts the form and magnitude of compensation, but implicitly they feel disappointed and unfair. Some of the obstacles faced in land acquisition for this canal project include:

Non-technical barriers

Incomplete ownership of land rights
Owners of land, buildings, and plants that are released are not in place
The value of compensation that is felt is not in accordance with the market price
The existence of mortgage rights on the acquired land
There are still people who control the land physically without the base of rights
Inventory inventory by the Land Procurement Committee

Technical Obstacles

Channel project design change
Too fast payment of compensation, while the community still survives at the location, which results in eviction
The measurement process that takes a long time
Long time interval between inventory to compensation payments
There is a long grace period between location determination to its realization
The existence of the paper industry affected by the project

Solutions and Recommendations

To overcome these obstacles and achieve a fair and transparent land acquisition process, several solutions and recommendations can be applied:

Accurate Research

Accurate and comprehensive research on the value of land and buildings, as well as the socio-economic conditions of the community affected by the project, must be done before determining the value of compensation.

Effective Socialization

Comprehensive and sustainable socialization needs to be done to the public about the benefits of canal projects and their positive impacts on the environment and economy of Medan City. Socialization can be done through various media, including print media, social media, and direct meetings with the community.

Clear Counseling

Counseling about legislation related to land acquisition, as well as the overall land acquisition process, needs to be done correctly and repeatedly. This is to ensure that people truly understand their rights and obligations in the land acquisition process.

Community Involvement

It is important to actively involve the community in the land acquisition process. The community needs to be invited to participate in determining the project location, determining the amount of compensation, and overseeing the project implementation process.

Transparency and Accountability

All land acquisition processes must be carried out transparently and accountably. Information about the project plan, the value of compensation, and the project implementation process must be published to the public.

Conclusion

By applying the solutions and recommendations mentioned above, the land acquisition process for canal projects in Medan is expected to run more smoothly, fairly, and transparently. This will guarantee the success of canal projects and bring benefits to the people of Medan City, especially in overcoming the problem of flooding and improving the quality of life of the community.

References

Presidential Decree Number 55 of 1993 concerning Land Procurement for the Public Interest
Research on the value of land and buildings, as well as the socio-economic conditions of the community affected by the project
Reports on the land acquisition process for canal projects in Medan City

Future Research Directions

Future research can focus on:

Conducting a comprehensive study on the impact of land acquisition on the community
Developing a more effective and efficient land acquisition process
Identifying best practices in land acquisition for public interest projects
Conducting a cost-benefit analysis of land acquisition for canal projects

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study only focuses on the land acquisition process for canal projects in Medan City
The study does not consider the impact of land acquisition on the environment and the economy of Medan City
The study does not provide a comprehensive analysis of the land acquisition process for public interest projects in general.

Recommendations for Future Research

Future research should aim to address the limitations of this study and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the land acquisition process for public interest projects.
Land Acquisition for the Public Interest: Q&A

Introduction

Land acquisition for public interest projects, such as canal construction, is a complex and challenging process. In our previous article, we discussed the challenges and opportunities in land procurement for canal projects, using the case study of Medan City, Indonesia. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the frequently asked questions about land acquisition for public interest projects.

Q&A

Q: What is land acquisition for public interest projects?

A: Land acquisition for public interest projects refers to the process of acquiring land from private owners for the purpose of building public infrastructure, such as canals, roads, and buildings.

Q: Why is land acquisition for public interest projects necessary?

A: Land acquisition for public interest projects is necessary to provide essential services and infrastructure to the community. For example, building a canal can help to prevent flooding and improve the quality of life for residents.

Q: What are the challenges in land acquisition for public interest projects?

A: Some of the challenges in land acquisition for public interest projects include:

Incomplete ownership of land rights
Owners of land, buildings, and plants that are released are not in place
The value of compensation that is felt is not in accordance with the market price
The existence of mortgage rights on the acquired land
There are still people who control the land physically without the base of rights
Inventory inventory by the Land Procurement Committee

Q: How can land acquisition for public interest projects be made more efficient?

A: Land acquisition for public interest projects can be made more efficient by:

Conducting accurate and comprehensive research on the value of land and buildings
Providing effective socialization to the public about the benefits of the project
Ensuring clear counseling about legislation related to land acquisition
Encouraging community involvement in the land acquisition process
Ensuring transparency and accountability in the land acquisition process

Q: What are the benefits of land acquisition for public interest projects?

A: Some of the benefits of land acquisition for public interest projects include:

Providing essential services and infrastructure to the community
Improving the quality of life for residents
Enhancing economic growth and development
Reducing the risk of flooding and other natural disasters

Q: How can land acquisition for public interest projects be made more transparent and accountable?

A: Land acquisition for public interest projects can be made more transparent and accountable by:

Publishing information about the project plan, the value of compensation, and the project implementation process
Ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and involved in the land acquisition process
Conducting regular monitoring and evaluation of the land acquisition process
Ensuring that all decisions are made in a fair and transparent manner

Q: What are the consequences of not acquiring land for public interest projects?

A: The consequences of not acquiring land for public interest projects can include:

Delayed or cancelled projects
Increased costs and expenses
Reduced economic growth and development
Decreased quality of life for residents

Conclusion

Land acquisition for public interest projects is a complex and challenging process. However, by understanding the challenges and opportunities in land procurement, we can make the process more efficient and effective. By providing accurate and comprehensive research, effective socialization, clear counseling, community involvement, and transparency and accountability, we can ensure that land acquisition for public interest projects is carried out in a fair and transparent manner.