Algi M Gifari, Bandung – Efforts to clean up the Citarum River in the BBS area of Bandung Barat Regency seemed promising after a week of intensive cleaning, and years of restoration. However, rain brought a resurgence of garbage flooding the river on Thursday.
Ironically, Indonesia had recently showcased the Citarum River, once notorious as one of the world's most polluted rivers, at the World Water Forum in Bali last month.
The return of trash followed days of heavy rain and strong winds in the Bandung area, which swept household waste piles into the river.
Just days ago, a joint task force including the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, West Java Provincial Government, Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and volunteers had cleared the section of the Citarum River at BBS.
"Yesterday afternoon, this stretch was clean," reported Lieutenant Surya Wijaya from the Citarum Harum Task Force Sector 9 Infantry on site Thursday.
However, after the rain and strong winds, the once-clean Citarum River was once again filled with garbage this morning. "This might be due to the wind, and also the upstream impact where many people may not yet be aware of the need to dispose of household waste properly," explained Surya.
The trash, mainly household waste such as plastic items, styrofoam, and various other types of waste, was worsened by water hyacinth plants.
"Sometimes even the scavengers lack discipline; they sort through the trash, but once it piles up, they leave it uncollected," he added.
Despite ongoing efforts by the joint task force and volunteers using heavy machinery and manual labor, the situation remains challenging.
"Hopefully, in the future, we can resolve this within a day or two, with plans to ensure at least 500 meters on both sides are clean by Saturday," he concluded.
Indonesia showcased its Citarum Harum initiative at the 10th World Water Forum held from May 18-25 in Nusa Dua, Bali. The 297-kilometer-long Citarum River is West Java's longest river and crucial for the 25 million people who depend on it. Once labeled the world's dirtiest river, it has been a focus of President Joko Widodo's Citarum Harum (Fragrant Citarum) program since 2018, aiming to restore its functionality and beauty.
"Without water, there is no food, no peace, no life. No water, no life, no growth," Jokowi stressed during his speech at the 10th World Water Forum.
In 2018, President Widodo launched the Citarum Harum program to transform the troubled river into a source of clean water for Indonesia's most populous province by 2025. As part of this initiative, more than 7,000 troops were deployed to remove garbage obstructing the waterway.