'Jakarta rivers like sewers'<\/p>\n
Most of the rivers that flow through the city are heavily
\npolluted, not only by industrial waste, but also by household
\ngarbage - a condition that might result in floods when the rainy
\nseason comes. People living along the river banks admit that they
\nalways dump the waste into the river as there is no garbage dump
\nin the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Mamat, a parking attendant for almost 20 years in Bendungan
\nHilir, South Jakarta. He resides with his wife and two children
\nalong the Krukut river in Karet Tengsin subdistrict, South
\nJakarta. He is from Medan, North Sumatra:<\/p>\n
We always dump the garbage into the river here. It's our
\nhabit. So, what's wrong with that?<\/p>\n
If you talk about a better place to dump the garbage, can you
\nshow me where it is? I have been here for years but there is no
\ngarbage dump (in the neighborhood).<\/p>\n
Johan, 19, a vendor selling gado-gado (traditional vegetable
\nsalad). He and his fellow vendor rents a small shanty along the
\nKrukut river in South Jakarta. He comes from Kuningan, West
\nJakarta:<\/p>\n
Frankly speaking, I always dump the trash into the river.
\nEverybody in my neighborhood does the same thing every day. So, I
\ndon't think there is anything wrong with that.<\/p>\n
There is no place in my neighborhood to dump the trash. I
\nsometimes burn the flammable waste and dispose of plastics in the
\nriver.<\/p>\n
Well, sometimes ... I am aware that I am doing wrong to throw
\naway the trash carelessly into the river. I realize that it might
\ncause trouble for us during the rainy season. But, every resident
\nhere does not care about the trash.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, if there is a garbage dump in my area, it may prevent
\nthe locals from littering.<\/p>\n
Muji, 43, a boatman who serves passengers crossing the Krukut
\nriver. He has done this for seven years:<\/p>\n
I am accustomed to seeing people dump their trash every day
\ninto the river. The smelly and muddy water is part of my daily
\nlife here.<\/p>\n
I cannot say anything good about the habits of the residents
\nliving along the river bank. This is Jakarta, a metropolitan city
\nthat always produces trash every second.<\/p>\n
Upon seeing that and living in the situation, the only way is
\njust to take it for granted. I don't know what I am supposed to
\ndo about the situation.<\/p>\n
I seldom dump garbage (into the river). I even clear the waste
\nin the river that obstructs my boat.<\/p>\n
Samidi, 48, a security officer at the Forestry Ministry. He
\nlives near a small river in Jatijajar, Depok. He has a wife and
\nthree children:<\/p>\n
I'm tired of seeing my neighbors dumping trash into the river,
\nand warning them not to do so. There is only one person out of 10
\nwho is aware that it is wrong.<\/p>\n
Supposing, if one person disposes a piece of plastic waste
\ninto the river, then can you imagine how much waste is dumped by
\nhundreds of those ignorant people?<\/p>\n
The people who live in the housing complex near my kampong do
\nthe same thing. They also dump trash into the river.<\/p>\n
It's not that easy to change their bad habits and to improve
\ntheir awareness, as there is no proper garbage dump nearby.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-rivers-like-sewers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }