Cileungsi River Blackens, Fish Dies

The condition of the Cileungsi River, Bogor Regency, West Java, Monday (11/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-KP2C)

The flow of the Cileungsi River, Bogor Regency, West Java, has returned to black since Sunday (10/9), causing the fish in it to die.

The head of the Cileungsi-Cikeas River Care Community (KP2C) Puarman explained that the flow of water that was black and thick also emitted an unpleasant aroma.

"Starting black from Sunday afternoon, but getting worse at night. So, this Monday morning many fish died in the river," said Puarman as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, September 11.

He admitted that he received reports from the public regarding the unpleasant aroma caused by the polluted river. They asked the government to seriously deal with the pollution of the Cileungsi River which has been going on for years.

According to him, the pollution of the Cileungsi River has been going on for a long time, even more than seven years.

"Supervision and guidance carried out by the government so far, it turns out that it is not effective because the alleged pollution from industrial waste always occurs and repeats itself," said Puarman.

He said the government must use its authority to take stricter action against perpetrators of river pollution.

"Close the factory and criminalize the perpetrators, so that there is a deterrent effect, the community has suffered and been harmed for too long. If they are unable and want to use their authority, raise the white flag," he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Head (Plt) Head of the Bogor Regency Environmental Service (DLH) Bambam Setia Aji explained that since he served as Plt a few months ago, four companies have been prosecuted because they are considered to have polluted the Cileungsi River.

"There have been four companies being prosecuted. Yesterday there were also two companies that had been processed in court because of such pollution," said Bambam.

He admitted that he often had problems with the limited authority of the Bogor Regency Government when taking action against companies that polluted the Cileungsi River, because many companies had PMA (Foreign Investment) status.

"But at least, our authority, there is such pollution. We immediately wrote a letter to the provinces and the Center so that they can act further," he said.