Students organize river-protection group

SURABAYA: Hundreds of students from schools located along or near the Kali Surabaya riverbank in Mojokerto, Gresik and Surabaya, have established a Kali Surabaya watchdog committee to help protect the river's ecosystems and environment.

The students from SMPN 16 Surabaya, SMPN 24 Surabaya, SMPN 2 Jatis Mojokerto, SMP Muhammadiyah Taman Sepanjang and SMPN 1 Kedamean junior-high schools and SMAN 1 Manyar, Gresik, senior high school will monitor the catchment areas of the Kali Surabaya. "We observed some springs in Mt. Penanggungan, one of the Kali Surabaya's water sources, and found that water levels have dropped. According to locals, some springs have already dried up," said Febrina Rachmawati, a student from SMPN 16, on Tuesday. - JP