Sad Stories from Citarum’s Downstream
The region’s economic splendor, including in Muara Gembong at the downstream of Ciliwung River, was at its height in the 1990s.
Bekasi’s past is full of tales of glory. The region’s economic splendor, including in Muara Gembong at the downstream of Ciliwung River, was at its height in the 1990s. Unfortunately, the glory subsided as Citarum was increasingly polluted.
Tales of glory from Citarum River’s downstream are nothing more than beautiful memories nowadays. Many say that the heavy damage on West Java’s longest and largest river is behind it.
On Tuesday (2/1/2018), as he hopped down from his boat, 37-year-old Warta was visibly gloomy. The fisherman from Muara Bendera in Muara Gembong district, Bekasi regency, was once again disappointed by his fishing yield that day.
After going out to sea for a whole day, he could only catch 16 kilograms of squid, which he could sell for Rp 512,000 (US$38.40). After costs and splitting the profit with two of his boat mates, he could only bring home Rp 34,000. “Pollution in Citarum has reduced the squid population. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, I could bring home between 50 and 100 kilograms of squid a day,” Warta said.
Located on the downstream of Citarum, economic growth in Bekasi, including in Muara Gembong, used to be in full swing.
Located at the northern tip of Bekasi regency, Muara Gembong is Citarum River’s final destination. Serving as a source of life for around 20 million people, the river – the upstream of which is located in Bandung regency – has been damaged by human activity. Cattle dung, household waste and industrial waste contribute to Citarum’s heavy damage. Ironically, all this waste is carried by the river all the way to its meeting point with the sea, 279 kilometers away from its spring.
Another fisherman, Muslim, 36, said Citarum’s water was no longer clear. It often has a dark brownish hue and blackens at points of industrial waste disposal. The river’s fish and shrimp have died from poisoning. Its foul stench is unmistakable and heartbreaking.
Ruins of past glory
Located on the downstream of Citarum, economic growth in Bekasi, including in Muara Gembong, used to be in full swing. Now, the conditions are markedly different. Muara Gembong’s poor infrastructure stands in stark contrast with the luxurious residences of Cikarang, just 60 kilometers to Bekasi’s south.
As the story goes, Bekasi, along with Banten, Bogor and Jakarta, once belonged to the flourishing kingdom Tarumanagara with its legendary King Purnawarman. The Tugu inscription in Batutumbuh hamlet (now South Tugu sub-district in Koja district, North Jakarta) records tales of the kingdom’s glory.
No one knows for sure what the canals were for but they were possibly used to curb flooding or for transportation.
Purnawarman was said to have built two water canals, Chandrabaga and Gomati, in around the fifth century AD. The canals were 6,122 tombak or around 11 kilometers long. Purnawarman gifted 1,000 cows to the local community after construction was complete.
No one knows for sure what the canals were for but they were possibly used to curb flooding or for transportation. Literature expert Poerbatjaraka said Chandrabhaga, which was also often called sashbagha or baghasasi, was the origin of the name Bekasi.
Up to the late 1990s, remnants from this past glory could still be seen. Muin, 53, who owns fishponds in Pantai Bahagia village, said he could still harvest 100 kilograms of shrimp from his 12 hectares of fishponds at the time. “They were big. You only need nine or eleven shrimp to get one kilogram,” Muin reminisced.
Citarum’s pollution is said to be the end of such wonderful tales. The blackened river water that flows into the fish pond has hindered the shrimps’ growth and even killed them. Harvests have plummeted to only around 10 kilograms a day. The shrimp have also gotten smaller. Nowadays, Muin needs around 80 shrimp to get one kilogram.
Muin said he once modified the planting process in his fish ponds. He deliberately sowed shrimp seedlings to increase the harvest yield. However, it was unsuccessful. In 2008, he resigned to his fate. He rented his fishponds to other farmers.
Hamlet II chief Warita in Pantai Bahagia village said the pollution in the Citarum River had severely disadvantaged locals as many of them were fisherman. “The waste blackens the water and destroys the river and the sea,” Warita said.
Pollution has also detached locals’ cultural relationship with Citarum River. Citarum nowadays is often neglected. No one wants to drink its water anymore despite its fame as being crystal clear in the past. “I don’t want to drink it even if it is boiled,” Warita said.
Muara Bendera residents have reported the pollution to village and district offices numerous times. These offices then forward the reports to the Bekasi regency office. However, no improvements have been made.
The damage has gone far beyond pollution and siltation. Erosion and abrasion from sedimentation are also becoming increasingly severe.
Some locals have left their homes on Citarum’s river bank. The damage has gone far beyond pollution and siltation. Erosion and abrasion from sedimentation are also becoming increasingly severe. In Muara Bendera hamlet, many are now living on stilt homes as the riverbank is continuously eroded. Citarum River gets shallower and yet wider as time goes by. “Back when it was still clear, it was only 40 meters wide. Now, it is 80 meters wide,” Muin said.
Locals in Muara Jaya hamlet, Pantai Mekar village, Muara Gembong, are more severely affected. Apart from the threat of sedimentation, without the presence of rocks or mangroves, incoming sea water easily reaches locals’ homes. At least 20 homes have been destroyed as they were hit by waves.
Muara Jaya fisherman Tawi, 47, said abrasion had occurred since 2012. Together with his wife and five children, he was forced to leave his house in mid-2015. He constructed a new house from wood and bamboo some 100 meters away from his old house. “We live on another resident’s land. We have no money to rent,” said Tawi, who earns Rp 30,000 a day.
Muara Gembong locals’ sorrow seemingly knows no end. They have to bear the burden of Citarum river’s horrendous condition.