BADUNG, mybalinews.com : The Environment Ministry are targeting six rivers on the islands of Java and Bali to be free from waste pollution, so they do not pollute the oceans of Indonesia.
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said that the ministry has developed a plan to clean six major rivers in Java and Bali. Hanif said that the plan was preventive measure for tackling marine waste, especially the waste that pollutes beaches in Bali.
“For the preventive efforts, we are working with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), Norway, the UAE, and other countries to formulate a solution to waste starting from the rivers. There are sixmain rivers that are being addressed today,” said Hanif said during a beach cleanup at Kedonganan Beach, Badung Regency, Bali, on Sunday (19/1).
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In Bali, there are two rivers that need to be cleaned from waste, namely Tukad Mati and Tukad Badung. The program to clean Tukad Mati and Tukad Badung, he said, must be completed this year with no further waste or pollution allowed in these two rivers.
“In Bali, there are two rivers, Tukad Mati and Tukad Badung. I request that these two rivers be completely cleaned up this year, no more waste, no more pollution. We already have the human resources, the team, and the funds are sufficient,” he said.
“The TNI commander has given full support, as well as the Bali Police chief. And President (Prabowo Subianto) has made it clear that Bali must be clean,” Hanif emphasized.
He mentioned that Tukad Mati and Tukad Badung are major contributors to domestic waste that ends up in the ocean, and this issue will be resolved this year with zero tolerance for pollution. After cleaning, waste nets will be installed in these two rivers for further waste collection. Additionally, regulations will be enforced to ensure that no waste is dumped into these rivers.
“We will enforce rules so that not all waste can be disposed of in these rivers. We will apply communal waste management systems, and more, to ensure these two main rivers do not contribute to waste on Bali’s beaches,” he said.
He explained that these two major rivers in Bali are not very long—about 27 kilometers and 22 kilometers—so they can be cleaned. Besides these two rivers in Bali, several others in Java and Jakarta will also be cleaned.
Among these are the Ciliwung River, Citarum River, Bengawan Solo River, and Brantas River, which must be cleaned of waste before it reaches the ocean, and pollution must be eliminated.
“We still have five other rivers in Java that need to be addressed. The Ciliwung River, this has already been regulated, and the Citarum River—its Presidential Regulation will be revised. Then there’s the Bengawan Solo, Brantas River. So, four rivers in Java and two in Bali,” he explained.
He stated that the rivers in Bali and Java are major sources of ocean waste, particularly the Ciliwung River, which contributes about 20 to 30 percent of the waste in the ocean. ( mybalinews/ KAD/ ERV)
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