Minister Sonny inaugurates Clean River Program II<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Environment Sonny Keraf
\ninaugurated on Wednesday the second phase of the Clean River
\nProgram (Prokasih), emphasizing a comprehensive approach to water
\nmanagement spanning from upstream to downstream and preservation
\nof the water catchment area.<\/p>\n
\"My dream in this program is for the rehabilitation of the
\nCiliwung river to be an environmental milestone in our bid to
\nlift water quality and refine the spatial plan and housing near
\nit,\" Sonny said after opening a technical meeting of Prokasih
\nhere.<\/p>\n
\"The Ciliwung has played a historical role in the development
\nof Greater Jakarta. Therefore, it will be our main priority in
\nthis second phase of Prokasih which will last until 2005,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The river bank of the Ciliwung, dubbed the longest river in
\nWest Java, covers some 104,235 hectares.<\/p>\n
Earlier in September, the ministry along with the Ministry of
\nSettlement and Regional Infrastructure and the Netherlands signed
\na memorandum of understanding on the rehabilitation and promotion
\nof sustainable development along the Ciliwung river.<\/p>\n
\"We will implement the concept of development without
\neviction. In this way, we ask people living along Ciliwung river
\nto actively participate in preserving the rivers.<\/p>\n
\"Simple things such as sanitary and public toilets, no
\nlittering the river ... such habits will contribute to better
\nwater quality which is already in a poor condition due to over
\npollution. It is actually easy to teach Indonesians about healthy
\nliving if they feel the real benefit in it,\" Sonny said.<\/p>\n
On the evaluation of the previous decade of the Prokasih
\nprogram which was launched in 1989, Sonny revealed the fact that
\nrivers in 17 provinces have experienced an increased water
\nquality.<\/p>\n
\"In Siak river in Riau the water quality has improved as
\nindicated by the Chemical Oxygen Demand (OCD) level which dropped
\nfrom 175 part per million (ppm) in 1992 to 80 ppm in 1997,\" he
\nsaid, adding that pollution from 257 industries in 1997 have
\ndeclined by an average of 50 percent from previous years.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is now facing a serious problem on the availability
\nof water and water resources, the Minister of Settlement and
\nTerritorial Development Erna Witoelar said in her written speech
\nat the opening of the Technical Working Meeting of the Clean
\nRiver Program organized by the Environmental Impact Control
\nAgency (Bapedal).<\/p>\n
In Java for example, the availability of water is about 1,750
\ncubic-meter per capita per year, while the adequate standard
\nshould be 2,000 cubic-meter per capita per year.<\/p>\n
Erna identified five main causes of the crisis as the rapid
\nincrease in the city's population, environmental degradation
\ncaused by the tree plundering in River Basin Areas (DAS), the
\nlong dry season, the decrease in water quality, and the
\nexploration of ground water resources.<\/p>\n
Based on data from the Environmental Impact Control Agency,
\nthe arbitrary logging along river banks across the country has
\nincreased the number of critical river basin areas from 22 in
\n1984 to 39 in 1992.<\/p>\n
There will be a new regulation on river management, which for
\nmany people serves as a water resource, in anticipation of
\nregional autonomy, which takes effect in January next year.<\/p>\n
A river passing two provinces will fall under central
\ngovernment supervision.<\/p>\n
The management of a river which passes two cities or more will
\nbe handled by the provincial government, and rivers in cities
\nwill be monitored by the local administration. (04\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-sonny-inaugurates-clean-river-program-ii-1447893297",
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