Citarum river pollution alarming: PLN director

Citarum river pollution alarming: PLN director

BANDUNG: Director of the state-owned electricity company PT
PLN Kuntoro Mangkusubroto called to attention on Saturday the
alarming rate of chemical pollution from households and factories
along the Citarum river.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of a declaration of a
newly established forum dubbed the Love Citarum Community by an
environmental organization.

The activities of the new forum would include reforestation
and various educational activities to preserve the river.

Kuntoro noted that chemicals dumped in the river could also
damage the operation of the turbines at three dams -- Saguling,
Cirata and Jatiluhur -- that use the river water.

"The condition is aggravated by the fact that there is no
proper waste treatment to ensure that the waste is safe enough
before being dumped into the river," he added. (25/lup)