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)