Downstream Modern And Hulu Guarded By Alami, Walkot Samarinda: Let's Guard The River

The flow of the Mahakam river that empties into the sea is taken from the air in East Kalimantan, Wednesday (18-11). (Antara-Syu Wahyu Putro)

KALTIM - Samarinda Mayor Rusmadi Wongso invited his residents to make the river a source of life for humans and other living things, both creatures that are seen directly by the eyes and microorganisms.

"Speaking of rivers means talking about life, because the role of rivers is very important as a source of life, so let's take care of the river together, don't throw garbage or waste into the river," said Samarinda Mayor Rusmadi Wongso in Samarinda, East Kalimantan (Kaltim), quoted from Antara, Sunday, September 25.

Previously or while attending the celebration of the 7th Anniversary of the Sehelatan Waste Movement on the Karang Mumus River (GMSS-SKM) Samarinda, Rusmandi explained that there would be no settlements in Samarinda Kota District, Pinang River, Samarinda Ura District, and its surroundings if there were no Karang Mumus River (SKM).

This happened because residential areas began with the existence of water sources in SKM for various needs, so this condition proves that the river is a source of life.

"The existence of this river is God's blessing, so it has become an obligation for us who live side by side with SKM to always maintain and not pollute so that rivers are maintained and continue to flow throughout this life," said Rusmadi.

The existence of SKM, he continued, more than two-thirds of the Samarinda City area, so that if it is not handled properly, it is feared that it will have a negative impact on the community, among others, the impact of flooding is greater.

Thanks to SKM, SKM has attracted the attention of many parties, starting from the Central Government, East Kalimantan Provincial Government, Samarinda City Government, communities, and NGOs such as GMSS-SKM to continue to strive so that the river can function properly.

"This government concern is certainly an extraordinary collaboration, coupled with the support of GMSS-SKM friends, then environmental observers to realize SKM as a source of life," said Rusmadi.

Meanwhile, Misman, Chairman of GMSS-SKM Samarinda, said that currently SKM is being maintained, unlike before or before GMSS-SKM was established, because at that time the number of residents who threw garbage into the river was very large, but recently it has continued to decrease, even the government's attention to SKM is increasingly visible.

"The river function is very wide, including as a means of watering the source of life and as a channeling. The current condition of SKM in the downstream is modernly arranged with sheet piles, while upstream it is maintained naturally in order to provide a living space for river biota and for the benefit of the community," said Misman.