Cileungsi pollution level on the rise

Cileungsi pollution level on the rise

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

A study reveals that pollution on the Cileungsi River here has
reached an alarming level due to industrial, mining and household
activities, and a deterioration of the environment around the
river basin.

Secretary of the Environment Research Center at Bogor
Institute of Agriculture (IPB), Prastowo, explained that
pollution in the Cileungsi River was worse than in the Ciliwung
River, which runs through Jakarta.

"Uncontrolled urban development, which neglects the importance
of water reservoirs and water conservation, has resulted in the
decline of both the quality and quantity of the Cileungsi River,"
he said.

The data, based on a study in 2002, was presented on Thursday
during a workshop titled Industrial Society Awareness of
Environmental Issues, attended by officials from factories that
utilize Cileungsi water for their production processes.

Besides becoming the last stop for industrial and household
waste, the Cileungsi River also provides raw water for the
factories.

"It means, should the polluted water no longer be able to
provide water for the factories, they would have to cease
production," Prastowo added.

Data from the industry and trade agency reveals that 1,483
factories currently operate in Bogor, and about 300 of them take
water from the Cileungsi River.

Executive from PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Alexander Frans
said that his company took 132,000 cubic meters of water from the
river per month, less than the 181,440 permitted by the Bogor
administration.