DLH Bekasi Regency Pretexted By Ciwekabang River Swept Oil Content Difficulty Investigating Investigation

Residents were forced to wash clothes in the black and pungent Ciwekabang River in Sukaraya Village, Karang Bahagia District, Bekasi Regency, on November 2, 2019. (ANTARA-Pradita K S)

BEKASI - The Bekasi Regency Environment Agency (DLH) argued that there was minimal evidence, so it admitted that it was difficult to uncover environmental pollution in the Ciwekabang River, South Cikarang District.

The pollution was widely reported by the public due to oil pollution. However, the Head of DLH Bekasi Regency, Syafri Doni Sirait, claimed that the content of oil polluting the river had been swept away by the swift flow of the river.

According to Doni, this condition makes it difficult for his party to uncover environmental pollution in the river that crosses a number of industrial areas.

"We have deployed a team from the field of law enforcement, but it is very unfortunate when we get to the location that the water discharge is high, the current is heavy. It is suspected that the waste oil that pollutes the drainage cannot be found," he said in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, Wednesday, June 14, was confiscated by Antara.

Doni conveyed this related to the viral video of the river being polluted in Pasirsari Village, South Cikarang District, on Tuesday, June 6.

The 30-second video shows black river water. The channel flows behind one of the walls of the industrial area of the South Cikarang region.

Apart from being black, the river flow is also said to emit an unpleasant odor. It is known, the river is polluted with oil.

Doni said that his party immediately went to the location at night on the same day, but no pollution was found. Then the team came back the next day but did not find any pollution.

Doni argued that the pollution had been decomposed by the river flow. "When the team arrived at the location, the used oil liquid suspected by the video recorder was not found by the team because of the rain. So that the used oil had runoffs carried away by the flow of water whose debit level continued to rise," he said.

His party then summoned two oil processing companies whose location was crossed by the Ciwekabang River. However, because there was no evidence, their summons was in vain.

"One PT Nirmala, we called but apparently they are not operating because they have problems with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in previous years to court. Then the second company PT HM Horas Miduk, when we submitted the accusation, must be accompanied by evidence. The problem is that when going to the field, there is no evidence," he said.

Unfortunately, because it was considered in plain view that there was no pollution, DLH did not take samples of water from the river. This step makes DLH have no corroborating evidence.

Instead of taking samples himself, Doni said that he would call the party who recorded the defamation video for questioning. In addition, video recorders will also be asked for water samples taken.

"Of course we are looking for information from the source as if taking samples and asking for samples taken by them. The gakum team has called the party who recorded the video. After that, we will coordinate with the police to seek legal steps," he said.

Previously, a number of residents complained about the condition of the river which was often polluted. Itas (38) said that every time it rains, the river is often polluted and emits a pungent odor. Residents suspect that the oil waste was dumped during heavy river water.

"This water is black, if the Sundanese say hinyay (oil water). The problem is this is a resident's channel, but it smells pungent, often the smell of oil," he said.

Another resident Siti (43) said this pollution had occurred several years ago. "So it smells during the rainy season. So if it rains, it looks like the waste is thrown away. It smells, it makes me dizzy. This should be corrected," he concluded.