Ciliwung River

Ciliwung River

The Jakarta Post published a photograph on June 9 of Ciliwung
River in Dukuh Atas, South Jakarta, and quoted residents as
saying the water emitted a putrid stench.

Dukuh Atas residents are not the only sufferers. The stench
can be sampled at many points in the city, and is worst where the
waters flow through the Kali Besar to Sunda Kelapa. I visited
this area recently and formed the impression that the pollution
-- and smell -- is worse than when I was last there, more than
two years ago. I am surprised that a link does not seem to have
been made between the state of the river at its various outflow
points and the pollution reported in Jakarta Bay.

The Ciliwung is the reason Jakarta was founded where it was,
and has as much significance in the history of the city as the
Seine has for Paris, or the Thames for London. But, currently it
is best avoided.

Historic buildings on its banks have been restored in recent
years, but the river itself has not been cleaned up, which would
presumably require the clearing of riverside slums and relocation
of riverside dwellers. Whether this is an issue of housing, water
resources or of tourism, surely Jakarta and its residents deserve
better than the current state of this historic and once
attractive river.

NICHOLAS NUGENT, Singapore