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Musi River's tributaries diminishing
During Dutch rule, theTengkuruk River, one of the tributaries, was filled up to build a street, now known as Jl. Sudirman, while, the Kapuran River has become Jl. Merdeka.
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A bulk freighter carrying coal cruises on the Musi River in Palembang, South Sumatra. (Antara/Nova Wahyudi)
T
he Palembang administration has revealed that the number of tributaries flowing into the city’s pride, the Musi River, has diminished mainly due to infrastructure development over the years, which may lead to a water crisis.
Palembang Mayor Harnojoyo said Palembang used to have more than 300 tributaries flowing into the river.
“However, the city has lost around 221 tributaries. Now, there are now only around 95 left,” he said during a national seminar on 2019 World Water Day on Thursday.
He added that during Dutch rule, theTengkuruk River, one of the tributaries, was filled up to build a street, now known as Jl. Sudirman, while, the Kapuran River has become Jl. Merdeka.
The remaining tributaries, he said, were experiencing a similar problem coupled with pollution.
“The regulation relating to illegal rubbish dumping is available, but we haven’t implemented it yet because it would just fill up our prisons,” Harnojoyo said.
The local administration, he added, has recorded that at least 11 percent of the city’s population of 2 million were still illegally dumping rubbish in the river and its tributaries.
The director-general of watershed control at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Ida Bagus Putera Parthama, said the government should take immediate action with regards to the Musi River because it is in a critical condition.
“We must take a stern measures. The spatial arrangement mistakes can create disasters," he added. (das)
