Filthy Ciliwung gets one-day cleanup, fish added

Irawaty Wardany, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 03/21/2010 4:21 PM

In recognition of World Water Day, which falls on March 22, groups of residents gathered Saturday in an effort to help clean the heavily polluted Ciliwung, one of the largest rivers in Jakarta.

Participants - stationed on its banks and in boats that traveled along the Ciliwung between Balekambang subdistrict in East Jakarta to Rawajati subdistrict in South Jakarta - collected piles of garbage, mostly plastic.

"How can we clean this river? It could take years," one participant said while looking desperately at the mess.

While traveling in the dinghies, participants noted the massive amount of plastic bags, diapers and assorted trash in the water, as if they were racing with the boats.

Another resident, Umar Fauzi, who took part in the cleanup said the program was a waste of money because hardly made a dent on garbage filling the heavily polluted river.

As part of the event, participants planted trees and released fish at several locations along the river.

In Rawajati a stage and several booths had been set up with an exhibition featuring recycled products and sponsor companies' displays.

The event was attended by Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Deputy Jakarta Governor for Industry, Trade and Transportation Sutanto Suhodo and representatives from the Environment Ministry.

"I hope this event teaches Jakartans not to pollute rivers," Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) chief Peni Susanti said.

If people in Jakarta cared about water and preserving their environment, water quality in Jakarta could be improved, she said.

However, when asked what programs her agency was running to keep the Ciliwung clean and to prevent residents from throwing garbage into the river, Peni could not provide clear details, saying only she expected residents to monitor and remind one another not to throw their garbage into the river.

"We only assist the community and teach them how to make things from garbage, and educate children, preparing them to become water ambassadors," she said.

All communities involved could continue to collect garbage from the river and preserve the trees they had planted, Peni said.

However, despite its aims, the event itself also added to garbage pollution around the Ciliwung with straws from soft drinks and meal containers provided spilling over from trash cans and nobody attempting to clean them up.