Three Ministries Visit Upper Citarum Watershed

One of the implementation programs in focused activities within the Middle Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) of 2015-2019 is water resilience and river health recovery programs in five priority watersheds, namely Ciliwung, Citarum, Serayu, Solo and Brantas. Citarum watershed is one of the priority watersheds whose issues need to be immediately addressed. The complexity of the issues that expands from its upstream to downstream areas needs to be comprehensively addressed by a variety of related institutions.

The delegation passes 10 Km point of Citarum upper stream,which is one of the locations for “Greenbelt Citarum” activities.

Basah Hernowo, the director for forestry and water conservation at Bappenas, who is also the initiator of the activities said, “By directly identifying the issue on the site, we expect to come up with the solution and common commitment related to the implementation of Citarum watershed recovery in accordance with the plan.”

Around 30 participants coming from various divisions in Bappenas joined the site visit, they included officials from directorate of forestry and water resources conservation, directorate of water and irrigation, directorate of environment, and directorate of food and agriculture. While officials from the ministry of environment and forestry included those from directorate of PDAS’ planning and evaluation, directorate of nature conservation and forest protection and a deputy assistant for inland water ecosystems degradation control, a deputy assistant for manufacturers’ pollution control and officials from divisions of infrastructure and services and planning bureau, West Java’s nature conservation agency and BPDAS Citarum-Ciliwung. And ministry of public works and people’s housing was represented by Balai Besar Wilayah Sungai Citarum. Also joining the delegation were officials from the state-run forestry company Perum Perhutani at Region III, West Java’s BPLHD and forestry office.

In addition to visiting Situ Cisanti spring (left),adiscussion with local people and leaders is also held to absorb aspirations and identify issues occurring on the site (right).

On the first day, the group visiting one of ICWRMIP activities – Village Conservation Model and Organic Farming Development in Cihawuk Village, Kertasari Sub-district. The delegation also visited Situ Cisanti, the main tributary of Citarum River. During the visit, a dialogue with local officials and leaders was also held to assess the condition and the ongoing development progress. At the same day, the delegation came to see the trial of waste water purifier installation which was donated by a textile businessman and located in one of residential areas in Majalaya.

A trial of waste water purifier installation in one of residential areas in Majalaya.

On the second day, the delegation visited Cikapundung River, one of the Citarum River’s stream which runs through the city of Bandung. The visited location was Pulosari which is a densely populated urban area. The delegation was welcomed by local officials and Cikapundung Recovery Program (CRP) Community. They held a dialogue with the heads of sub-district and local village and witnessed an activity held by the local community in their efforts to maintain Cikapundung River condition. The delegation’s next visit was to Batuloceng area-Suntejaya village, which is the upstream area of Cikapundung River. One of the activities seen by the delegation was the local people’s activity in utilizing the waste from cow farming to reduce pollution in Cikapundung River.

The delegation visits Cikapundung River,one of the Citarum River stream which runs through the city of Bandung (left), and they also witness a community activity in Batuloceng area in  Sunten jaya village (right).

The site visit was ended at 77th kilometer point of Citarum stream where the delegation went into a location of a community activity. Saguling Dam’s inlet area has become a gathering place of solid waste which either flows with the current from upstream and urban areas or is resulted from industrial activities which dump their waste directly to a river. During the visit, the delegation was also invited to observe activities held by community group members who turn waste and water hyacinth plants or locally called ‘eceng gondok’ into saleable products.

In addition to looking at the condition of Saguling Dam’s inlet in 77th kilometer point of Citarum stream, the delegation also sees activities held by community members of Bangkit Bersama Cooperative who utilize the waste available on Citarum River.

“This visit is just an initial step, we look forward to coordinating various stake-holders to do the follow-up plan and jointly address the Citarum River issues in an integrated way, so that it will help accelerate the Citarum River recovery efforts “, said Basah Hernowo in his closing statement.

Text: Nancy Rosma, Documentation: Iffah Rachmi for Cita-Citarum.