Megawati joins Water Day celebrations

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri spent Wednesday afternoon cruising down the dingy Ciliwung river in a small rubber dinghy as part of an event to mark World Water Day which fell on March 22.

Donning a life vest and cap, Megawati traveled down five kilometers of the river which according to Antara had been specifically cleared of its usual array of floating garbage beforehand.

Riding in the same dinghy was Minister of Regional Infrastructure and Settlement Erna Witoelar.

Behind them in separate dinghies were State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf, Junior Minister for Forestry Marzuki Usman, State Minister for Women Empowerment/Chief of Family Planning Board Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and City Council Speaker Edi Waluyo.

Under the tight security of eight accompanying speedboats, Megawati began her ride at Bukit Duri. She continued down to the Manggarai water gate in South Jakarta.

Residents living under squalid conditions along Ciliwung river appeared enthusiastic at witnessing the presence of the Vice President in a rubber dinghy.

They waved and screamed as she passed by their run-down shacks. Some even decorated their houses with PDI Perjuangan emblems.

Ciliwung is one of 13 rivers flowing through Jakarta.

Various projects, including the Prokasih river rehabilitation and cleanup project have been taken to improve sanitary conditions.

An action plan to save Cipinang Bening river in East Jakarta was also launched on Wednesday, as it is notoriously known as a heavily polluted river.

"We really hope that people can participate in saving their river. We are running community rehabilitation projects along Ciliwung as well as other rivers to prevent further pollution and possible floods," Erna Witoelar said. (edt)