Socio-ecological Risk Mitigation in the Construction of the Sicincin-Padang Toll Road, West Sumatra

Abstract

Although infrastructure development aims to improve the welfare of the whole society, it poses adverse environmental effects in practice. One of such developments carried out by the Indonesian government is the trans-Sumatra toll road, which created social and environmental problems, particularly on the Sicincin-Padang toll road in West Sumatra. The affected communities in this province lost their homes, agricultural land and livelihoods to lifestyle changes. One of the villages experienced significant flooding due to large water discharge after clearing the land. Therefore, this research aims to explain the mitigation of socio-ecological risks in developing toll road infrastructure in West Sumatra. This research was carried out using the multi-method approach with qualitative and quantitative data analyzed by CATWOE analysis. The results explained that the construction of toll roads in West Sumatra has social and environmental impacts. Social and ecological risk mitigation is carried out by formulating policies through a soft system methodology (SSM) by involving many parties, especially affected communities, in decision-making.