Human Anthology in Citarum River

KOMPAS/ALBERTUS KRISNA

Several workers collected waste from the Citarum River near the Saguling Reservoir in Cihampelas, Bandung Regency, Tuesday (7/2/2023). This worker is part of the Bening Saguling Foundation, a foundation engaged in the development of environmental and economic education.

The great civilizations of the world started from rivers. There is Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. There is Egypt from the valley of the Nile. In Indonesia, the Citarum River is also closely related to the Tarumanegara Kingdom, one of the oldest kingdoms on the island of Java.

Now, Citarum is one of the most important rivers in Indonesia. Its water is used as the raw material for clean water for tens of millions of residents of Bandung, Cianjur, Purwakarta, Bekasi, Karawang and Jakarta. The flow of water is also used to turn power turbines in three dams to meet the electricity needs for most parts of Java and Bali.

In term of numbers, Citarum's role cannot be underestimated. However, the biggest impact may only be felt directly by those who live upstream to downstream of this river.

Taking care

Atep (45) got a mandate from his mother, who died seven years ago, to look after the seven springs in Situ Cisanti, the Citarum River's water source.

One of the springs, Cikahuripan, gets a special attention from Atep. The spring is believed to be the guardian of the area. "Hereditary. The message is, anyone who comes here must look after and care for it. Moreover, there is a history of King Siliwangi here," Atep said on Sunday (5/2/2023) at Situ Cisanti, Bandung regency, West Java.

The message is, anyone who comes here must look after and care for it.

Visiting or bathing in Cikahuripan still has its own charm. It is common for a village head candidate to choose to bathe and pray in that place before starting his campaign period. When meeting Atep, at the same time, there was a village head candidate in Majalaya, Bandung regency, who wanted to be guided on the procedures for bathing in that place.

However, according to Atep, Citarum's biggest prize is not the crowds of people on pilgrimages or the economy from Situ Cisanti's tourism. Citarum's ability to provide water for centuries to local residents has made it so valuable. "I am grateful for Situ Cisanti, Citarum, as it has become the source of life," said Atep.

Blessing

The river has twice become the savior or the blessing in the life of Second Lieutenant Dadik Mauludin (42). The first incident occurred when he was on duty in a military operation in Special Region of Aceh two decades ago. In the middle of a routine patrol in the jungle, Dadik and his team lost their way. It had been five days in the forest, while rations had only been prepared for three days.

Dadik also suggested to follow the flow of the river. Shortly after the forest started to decrease, they heard the sound of a motorbike engine from a distance.

“There is no story that the water flow goes upward, except for the fountain. Finally, there are signs of life," Dadik said on Monday (6/2), under the shade of a tree at the Citarum Harum Water Park, Baleendah, Bandung regency.

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> Rivers in Indonesia Increasingly Dangerous

> Seven Years to Clean Citarum River

It has been about 12 years since this man from Pati, Central Java, was assigned to serve in Bandung regency. However, in just the last five years, he feels that he has had a big impact on the people around him. It all started with the Citarum Harum Program. In the past, there was no need for a canoe or boat to cross the river as the river had been covered with piles of garbage.

“In the past, I never imagined that there would be such a big change. It was used to be an empty land and became an illegal garbage dump," said Dadik.

Dadik and his fellow soldiers in Sector 6 of the Citarum Harum region, both using heavy equipment and simple equipment, cleaned up piles of garbage, transferring it to dozens of trucks in three months.

“I am happiest when I see kindergarten children being invited by their teacher [to the banks of the Citarum] and then getting an explanation about the importance of the river. This is my happiness, because the next generation can understand the environment and the results of my work can be felt immediately," he said with a broad smile.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Bening Saguling Foundation founder Indra Darmawan at a waste sorting facility on the edge of the Saguling Reservoir, Monday (7/2/2023).

Clean again

Amay (62) was born and raised near the Citarum River. Living in Citeureup village, Dayeuhkolot district, Bandung regency, Amay witnessed major changes on the Citarum. Amay's childhood experience at Citarum was like a fairy tale. In his childhood, Citarum was the center of people's lives. “We used to swim while looking for fish. The water was clean. Rice could be washed in the river," Amay said.

Living on the edge of Citarum, Amay witnessed the changes in this river. Amay experienced a flood that hit for days. When the flood came, they had to flee. Amay often had difficulty dealing with floods with waters higher than the neck.

Amay witnessed firsthand that the once-clean river had become a pile of rubbish and its water turned brownish black, giving off an unpleasant smell.

Luckily the Citarum Harum Program has begun to produce good results. Even though he made money by collecting trash, Amay hoped the piles of trash and waste would someday disappear from Citarum. For him, nothing is more valuable than clean water that can be enjoyed like when he was a child. "If I may choose, I would prefer this river to be clean again," he said.

Benefit

If we talk about economic value, one of the biggest beneficiaries from Citarum's trash could be Rudi (24), a scavenger in the Saguling Reservoir, West Bandung regency.

For six years, Rudi rows his canoe almost every day and collects trash in the river. He continues his father's livelihood.

Rudi is one of the scavenger partners of the Bening Saguling Foundation, a foundation founded by environmental activist Indra Darmawan (51). "It's sad, it's sad when you see Citarum is dirty; but really, the more trash, the more benefits I can get," said Rudi, smiling bitterly.

Also read:

> Pollution Continues in Citarum River

> It Needs Togetherness to Handle Citarum

However, now, these good efforts have borne fruit. Rudi's two younger sisters are two of the five children of scavenger relatives who are funded by the Bening Saguling Foundation to send them to high school.

Indra wants the scavenger work in Saguling that has been passed down for generations to end in Rudi's generation. These high school students will be prepared so they can be admitted at Indonesia's top universities.

Indra believes education will improve their standard of living. "These children will grow up to be anything, but they will care about the environment," said Indra. By involving the people who live from and around the Citarum to be able to benefit directly, Indra is sure that efforts to preserve the river can be continued and be maintained.

“Don't keep people away from the river. We not only invite the community to help conservation efforts, but also to receive the benefits," said Indra.

Citarum is the story of how the same stream of water has a different effect on everyone. The impact can be good or bad, but all are agreed, the flow of this river must be maintained.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi