Critical Analysis of Riverbank Control Governance in Tukad Badung, Bali: An Environmental Law Perspective

I Gusti Bagus Suryawan; I Gusti Ngurah Muliartha; Putu Kharisa

doi:10.58829/lp.13.1.2026.372

Authors

I Gusti Bagus Suryawan Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Indonesia
I Gusti Ngurah Muliartha Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Indonesia
Putu Kharisa Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58829/lp.13.1.2026.372

Keywords:

Environmental Law, Riverbank Protection, Spatial Planning, Tukad Badung, Water-Resource Governance

Abstract

This study examines the legal protection and implementation of riverbank control in Indonesia, with particular focus on the Tukad Badung riverbank in Bali. The study aims to analyze how riverbank protection is constructed within Indonesia’s environmental, water-resource, and spatial-planning framework and to identify the main implementation challenges affecting its effectiveness. The study uses a socio-legal approach combining normative legal analysis with empirical examination of riverbank management and governance practices. The findings show that Indonesia has a broad legal framework for riverbank protection, covering constitutional principles, environmental law, water-resource regulation, river boundaries, spatial planning, environmental quality standards, and administrative enforcement. However, the main challenge is an implementation gap rather than a regulatory vacuum. In Tukad Badung, this gap is reflected in inconsistent control of existing land uses, fragmented institutional responsibilities, limited continuous supervision, reactive enforcement, socio-economic pressures, limited community participation, and weak integration with wider watershed and urban environmental management. The study highlights the need for coordinated regulatory implementation through clear institutional responsibilities, continuous preventive supervision, fair enforcement, and meaningful community participation. Riverbank control should also integrate drainage, waste management, water-quality protection, flood management, and urban development policies to strengthen accountable and sustainable riverbank governance.

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