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