Save the water: Activists carry out traditional rituals on the banks of the Surabaya River to celebrate World Water Day, which falls on March 22
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Dozens of officials from tap water company Perum Jasa Tirta I and activists from environmental group Konsorsium Lingkungan Hidup (KLH) on Tuesday held tumpengan and ruwatan rituals on the banks of the Surabaya River to welcome World Water Day, which is celebrated every March 22.
Taufiqurahman of Perum Jasa Tirta I said the two Javanese rituals were held in the hope that people living along the banks of the Surabaya River would be made aware of the need to preserve the environment, and would stop throwing waste into the river.
'The tumpengan and ruwatan rituals are part of our efforts to ensure that all biota in the Surabaya River are preserved. It is hoped that everyone can be made aware of the importance of maintaining the Surabaya River, and have the willingness to protect it,' said Taufiqurahman.
Tumpengan is a Javanese tradition involving serving cone-shaped rice with various side-dishes to express gratitude for blessings received from God. Meanwhile, ruwatan is a ritual seeking divine blessings from God.At the event, the participants spread seeds of fish species endemic to the Surabaya River.
Compared with six years ago, the water condition in the Surabaya River is relatively clean, and endemic species are thriving, including rengkik, pangsius catfish or jendil and mystus or keting. In 2000, people could find only common snakeheads - locally known as sarkamut or gabus, a species resistant to water with a high level of pollution.
'Thanks to various efforts, the condition of the Surabaya River has improved. Various fish endemic to the Surabaya River such as rengkik, jendil and keting, which had once disappeared, can now be found easily by local anglers,' Taufiqurahman.
Meanwhile, KLH director Imam Rohani added that red worms were now quite difficult to find on the banks of the river. 'The difficulty in finding red worms is an indicator that the quality of water in the Surabaya River is improving,' said Imam.
In the central area of the river, Imam said, authorities supported by environmental activists had continued to monitor the quality of the river water, especially its pollution level, while water patrols were intensified on the downstream side of the river to reduce potential pollution.
'We monitor it every month and report it to [East Java governor Soekarwo],' said Imam. (ebf)
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