A cultural approach and collaboration between government, society and business is needed to handle the polluted Citarum River.
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Kompas/Rony Ariyanto Nugroho
The Citarum River is an important contributor to the economy for the locals, seen through the use of floating net cages near the Saguling reservoir in Maroko, Bandung regency, West Java on Thursday (4/1).
BANDUNG, KOMPAS — A cultural approach and collaboration between government, society and business is needed to handle the polluted Citarum River. Such togetherness is very important because the problems of the Citarum are complicated and multifaceted.
The Citarum problem is like tangled thread that is hard to unravel. Environmental pollution and damage has occured in the upstream and downstream of the 279 kilometer long river for decades. Not only has it caused state losses, the damage has also brought losses to around 20 million residents living around Citarum River.
Citarum River Management head Yudha Mediawan said he hoped the attention on the Citarum would not only focus on structural problems. “A cultural approach that involves all sides in preventing waste and garbage being thrown into the Citarum must be carried out together,” Yudha said.
As an example, the excavation of sediment from the Citarum River would be useless if it is not followed up with a waste management strategy and efforts to improve people’s attitude in the upstream. If not, after normalization work such as removing waste, the Citarum would again be polluted and experience sedimentation.
The excavation of the Citarum took a whole year. However, within one or two weeks the river was full of garbage again.
The excavation of the Citarum took a whole year. However, within one or two weeks the river was full of garbage again. Furthermore, the garbage that had been excavated and put on the riverbank was not immediately taken to the dumpsite. So, after it rained the garbage flowed back into the river again. Such a condition was seen in Cikapundung River, a tributary of the Citarum under Cijagra Bridge, Bandung regency, West Java.
Coaching
Siliwangi Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo said he hoped the Citarum Harum program could reduce damage to the Citarum. Starting this year, the Citarum is targeted to be free from garbage within 6 months, then free from waste in two years and for long-term recovery in the next five years. Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, police officers, religious leaders, environmentalists, artists and volunteers will be the front guard for the conservation of the Citarum.
“As many as 20 middle-rank TNI leaders will become coordinators at 20 points along the Citarum. They will outline details of the problem and handle budgeting, and then submit a report to the regent or mayor. Perhaps this is our biggest operation other than war,” Doni said on Friday (5/1).
Doni added the conservation work on the Citarum would be handled in stages, including educating residents living near the river. Residents will also get training on environmentally friendly agricultural practices and husbandry as well as mulberry planting.
Kompas/Benediktus Krisna Yogatama
Residents of the Citarum river bank in Cihampelas village, Cihampelas district, West Bandung regency, pick up rubbish left at the riverbank on Tuesday (2/1).
West Bandung regency Laksana Mekar village community leader Rosadi hopes that the promise is fulfilled. He said residents in eight villages in Batujajar farmed on the bank of the polluted Saguling reservoir.
“The residents should be offered alternative jobs. They do not understand that they live near hazardous waste,” said Rosadi, who is also coordinator of Community Network for River Water Conservation.
West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said the coordination of all sides, including the TNI and National Police, will smoothen conservation efforts. The funds needed for this program was estimated to reach Rp 604 billion. “With that fund we will jointly carry out conservation work to make the Citarum far better,” Heryawan said.
