River Cleanups Spur Communal Synergy During Pandemic

Name: River Cleanups Spur Communal Synergy During Pandemic
Uploaded: 2021-08-14T07:19:56Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: Around 20 people had gathered on the banks of the Taluk Kubur River at the weekend. Almost all wore green long-sleeved T-shirts and masks, with some even wore two masks.

Around 20 people had gathered on the banks of the Taluk Kubur River at the weekend. Almost all wore green long-sleeved T-shirts and masks, with some even wore two masks.

Jumarto Yulianus

· 6 minutes read

Its river is the identity of the city of Banjarmasin. Many residents from various communities who care about the environment are trying to maintain Banjarmasin’s identity as a beautiful riverside city, heading down together to the river to keep it clean despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Saturday (7/8/2021), regardless of the community activity restrictions (PPKM) that was still in force in Banjarmasin, the city’s residents arrived one by one to the banks of the Taluk Kubur River in North Alalak Village of North Banjarmasin district, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Some rode bicycles, while others rode motorcycles.

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The Taluk Kubur River is located at the end of Jl. HKSN (National Solidarity Day). The river is only 662 meters long and 4 to 5 meters wide. The Taluk Kubur flows into the Alalak River, one of three major rivers in Banjarmasin. The other two are the Barito and the Martapura.

Around 20 people had gathered on the banks of the Taluk Kubur River at the weekend. Almost all wore green long-sleeved T-shirts and masks, with some even wore two masks. They shared their tools: brooms, shovels and scoop nets.

At around 9 o’clock in the morning, some of the group waded into the murky river. Using the shovels and scoop nets, they lifted trash and weeds from the river. Others swept garbage and dry leaves on the bank. A pickup truck then took the waste and debris to the dump.

"This Saturday is the seventh cleanup action. So, we have worked together for seven weeks in a row to clean the Taluk Kubur River,” said Muhammad Murjani (57), a resident of Banjarmasin who is also the secretary of the Banjarmasin Green Leaf Association.

The program is a very important initiative, considering that Banjarmasin has 102 rivers that span a total length of 185.30 kilometers.

According to Murjani, the Taluk Kubur River was chosen to pilot the city’s river cleanup program. The program is a very important initiative, considering that Banjarmasin has 102 rivers that span a total length of 185.30 kilometers.

The rivers in Banjarmasin are divided into three categories: large rivers of more than 50 meters wide, medium rivers of 15-50 m wide, and small of less than 15 m wide. The city has three large rivers with a combined length totaling 48,271 m, 45 medium rivers with a combined length of 87,296 m, and 54 small rivers with a combined length of 49,736 m.

Murjani said 20 to 30 people regularly took part in the river cleanup each weekend, with the activity taking place in different locations. "We have never stopped cleaning the river, even during the pandemic. Because when we integrate ourselves with nature, our immune system also increases,” he said with a laugh.

The river cleanup program’s regular participants come from various environmental groups, including the Banjarmasin Green Community Forum (FKH Banjarmasin), the Banjarmasin River Care Society (Melingai),

the Banjarmasin Green Leaf Association, and the Banjarmasin Lotus Community. The program is supported by the city-owned wastewater processing company, PD PAL.

FKH Banjarmasin secretary Hasan Zainuddin said that previous activities involving the Taluk Kubur included seeding the river with 1,500 tilapia and catfish fry. It is hoped that the fry will grow and breed for local residents to fish.

"This is a form of [offering] alms to nature and the people. One day, everyone will be able to fish this river,” he said.

Green city

Residents of various professional backgrounds involved in the FKH and other environmental organizations strongly support the program to develop Banjarmasin into a green city. Every weekend, they are willing to leave their daily activities to take part in the river cleanup, which has been held regularly since FKH Banjarmasin was established in 2013.

“From the beginning until now, we are still doing our activities even though we have not been asked to do so. We are not paid, and we also do not ask for recognition, let alone praise. We are nobody and we want to be nobody. We just want Banjarmasin to be a green, cool, leafy and beautiful city,” said Hasan.

Even amidst the tireless efforts of a number of environmental activists, there are many residents who are still not aware of the need to protect the environment. Activities related to environmental education are also regularly held for visiting schools, universities and communities.

"We never tire of educating or taking action to change people\'s mindset towards the environment," said Hasan.

According to Melingai Banjarmasin deputy chairman Mohammad Ary, Banjarmasin has been pushing to become a river-friendly city since 2015.

Many residents volunteered with Melingai because they were called on to make Banjarmasin the most beautiful riverside city in Indonesia, said Ary.

“We are concerned about the condition of the rivers in Banjarmasin, because they are experiencing siltation, narrowing, and pollution. Therefore, we and all partners who want to work together continue to carry out the cleanup activities," he added.

In January 2021, the river\'s problems peaked to trigger massive flooding. The Banjarmasin administration recorded that the flooding hit 152 areas in the city.

Of all areas affected by the flooding, 107 areas were located in East Banjarmasin, 28 in North Banjarmasin and 17 in South Banjarmasin. Only the areas located in West Banjarmasin and Central Banjarmasin were not hit by the floods, which affected a total of 31,357 families, or 101,601 people.

In addition, there should be a program to revitalize its tributaries so that the river will flow smoothly.

Therefore, in preparing the Banjarmasin Municipality Medium-Term Development Plan 2021-2026, Ary said that Melingai suggested each subdistrict have a target to manage one major river. In addition, there should be a program to revitalize its tributaries so that the river will flow smoothly.

“We have started by cleaning the tributary of the Tungku River in one of the residential neighborhoods. Rivers that no longer function well can be revitalized so that it can flow smoothly again,” he said.

PD PAL Banjarmasin director Rahmatullah said that the public needed to be involved in the river cleanup program due to limited manpower at the Banjarmasin Public Works and Spatial Planning Office.

“We want the existing rivers to function properly, maintain cleanliness, and to be beautiful. The cleanup programs must be carried out regularly,” he said.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).

Editor:

naranasrullah

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