PORTALJABAR, WEST BANDUNG REGENCY - Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin said that the Citarum Harum Program has brought positive changes, starting from handling industrial waste, reducing critical land, increasing the water quality index (IKA), to reducing the area of flooding in the Citarum River Basin.

Bey said this while accompanying the working visit of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in Sector 9 Citarum Harum, Batujajar District, West Bandung Regency, Saturday ( 10/8/2024 ).

In the event, the Indonesian Army through the Central Equipment Workshop (Bengpuspal) of the Army Equipment Center (Puspalad) created an innovation in waste cleaning equipment in the Citarum River in the form of a pontoon boat for transporting waste, a conveyor machine, a waste incinerator, and a shredding machine.

"I express my highest appreciation to the Army Chief of Staff and all ranks, for their dedication and hard work in developing innovations to support waste management (in the Citarum River)," said Bey.

"We hope this innovation can demonstrate our ability to create appropriate solutions according to needs in the field," he added.

According to Bey, handling the Citarum River requires collective work from all parties to commit to maintaining the cleanliness of the environment in the Citarum River Basin.

"Therefore, we continue to collaborate, synergize, and commit to realizing a fragrant and sustainable Citarum River. The government and the community must continue to work together to realize a clean, healthy, and productive Citarum River Basin, and restore harmony between biodiversity and humans, for the sustainability of water resources that provide the greatest benefits for life in the Citarum River Basin," he said.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the equipment provided by the Indonesian Army through the Central Equipment Workshop (Bengpuspal) of the Army Equipment Center (Puspalad) can handle waste in sector 9 of Citarum Harum. Moreover, the equipment has been tested.

"I was a bit surprised because we have received assistance from the Netherlands and from France. It's not much different from this (the Indonesian Army's innovation)," said Luhut.

Luhut said, there was a striking improvement from six years ago in the Citarum River watershed area. He said that at the beginning when he made a working visit to the Citarum River watershed area, there was still an octopus of garbage scattered on the Citarum River.

"Because it was like before our eyes (Sector 9 Citarum) I remember six years ago when we first came here we could walk (on the Citarum River) on the garbage, now the water is clear," he said.

"This builds a truly integrated ecosystem. Because this cannot be done by one person, it must be done by all. We are united," he added.