Land Use Rights Can Be Revoked to Provide Housing for Disaster Victims: Prabowo

Aceh: President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the need to immediately provide land for the construction of temporary housing (huntara) for disaster-affected residents in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Prabowo expressed his willingness to temporarily revoke the Land Use Rights (HGU) if necessary for the benefit of the community.

This instruction came after the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, reported that one of the pressing challenges in accelerating the construction of temporary housing (Huntara) was the availability of land from local governments.

"Regional heads must prepare the land. The government will build it, Mr. President. The land itself is sometimes problematic at the central level," Suharyanto said in Aceh, as quoted in a written statement on Sunday, December 7, 2025.

In his explanation, the Head of BNPB explained that temporary housing (Huntara) is designed to be much more suitable housing than refugee tents. Each unit is intended for one family.

"The size of the Type 36, Mr. President. Eight by five. Rather than living in tents, it would be more appropriate for them to live in temporary housing," said Suharyanto.

Prabowo then asked for detailed specifications and construction costs. Suharyanto said the price was Rp30 million.

"There's a toilet and bathroom, all ready in one unit," Suharyanto explained. Prabowo considered this price relatively efficient.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also explained that the hunter shelters are designed to be used for a maximum of one year before residents are moved to permanent housing (huntap). However, it could take longer if land availability is hampered.

"Our concept is that temporary housing is no more than one year, except in certain cases where the allocation stipulated by the regional head requires land preparation," said Suharyanto.

Responding to this, Prabowo emphasized that the state is obliged to find a quick solution.

"I think the land should be available. We will coordinate with the district government, provincial government, central government, and all ministries/agencies, especially the ATR (Agricultural Affairs and Spatial Planning), Forestry, and ATR-BPN (National Land Agency), and check everything," Prabowo said.

He then emphasized that the people's needs are the highest priority. "If necessary, HGUs can be temporarily revoked or reduced. This is the people's interest that is more important. The land must be available," Prabowo asserted.