Bandung, Indonesia Sentinel — A group of five young men from West Java, known as Pandawara, has launched another large-scale cleanup operation at Citarum River, which has been heavily polluted with waste. The initiative was carried out for seven days, which began on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
This cleanup effort is a collaborative initiative involving the Citarum River Basin Authority (BBWS), the Citarum Task Force for Sector 08, and the Bandung Regency Environmental Agency.
“We are doing this to raise awareness, not to place blame. Pandawara takes action to protect the environment from destruction,” Pandawara stated, as reported by Liputan6.
Personal Fund
They disclosed that Pandawara had personally finance for the Citarum River Cleanup, which expenses for the operation reaches millions of rupiah. Especially during the cleanup, the group had to deployed two heavy excavators to assist in clearing the waste-clogged river.
“The cost of renting two excavators for 50 hours each is Rp850,000 ($54) per hour. That means we spent Rp42.5 million ($2,700) per excavator,” they explained. “Additionally, transportation costs amounted to Rp16 million ($1,000), along with operational expenses for garbage bags, gloves, large ropes, and food and beverages for the staff,”
In total, Pandawara reported that the seven-day cleanup would cost approximately Rp106 million ($6,800). The funds covered equipment rental and wages for the workers involved in the effort.
“This content is not meant to boast about what we have achieved but to remind everyone that cleaning up after irresponsible polluters is an expensive task,” they emphasized.
Progress and Ongoing Efforts
On Tuesday, January 28, Pandawara shared an update on their four-day progress. “At least there has been some improvement. Three days to go. We hope to restore the river,” they stated.
In the photos they posted, sections of the river that were previously entirely covered with waste have started to reveal the water beneath. However, large piles of collected trash remain at various points, awaiting removal by the involved parties.
Terminal For Waste
According to the Citarum Harum website, the cleanup effort took place along the Old Citarum River in Margaasih District, Bandung Regency, specifically at Oxbow Sector 8 of the Citarum River in Cicukang.
The accumulation of waste is a recurring issue at the Oxbow Cicukang, particularly after heavy rainfall in the Bandung area that carried waste. Colonel Kav Edward Francis, commander of Sector 8, noted that the waste covering the surface of Cicukang originates from upstream tributaries and is blocked from entering the Citarum River due to barriers.
“The length of Oxbow Cicukang from the irrigation outlet to the oxbow outlet is approximately one kilometer, while the waste spread covers about 400 meters of the water’s surface,” he explained.
Colonel Kav Edward Francis, praised the Pandawara community for initiating the cleanup effort at Oxbow Cicukang. While the Citarum Harum Task Force for Sector 8 has committed to supporting the efforts of the Pandawara community and BBWS until Oxbow Cicukang is entirely free of waste.
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Previous Effort
Sadly, waste pollution has plagued the Citarum River for years. This year’s Citarum River cleanup activity is not the first time it has been done, as Pandawara also did the same initiative last year .
In a viral social media post last year, Pandawara shared footage of the river, showing massive amounts of garbage accumulating near the BBS Bridge in Batujajar, West Bandung Regency.
The group had called on the public and government officials to take action. In response, Pandawara, along with local communities, conducted cleanup activities that temporarily restored parts of the river.
However, just three days later, waste had once again piled up. “Pandawara cleans it up, and the local residents dump waste in it again,” one social media user commented.
Future of Citarum River
Despite the ongoing efforts by both local authorities and groups like Pandawara, the Citarum River remains one of the most polluted rivers in Indonesia.
Pandawara also urged the public to contribute to the initiative. “If you cannot contribute financially, at the very least, please help by not littering in rivers or other inappropriate places,” they said.
With this initative, Pandawara aimed to raise public awareness while at the same times urge the public to take responsibility for waste disposal and contribute to maintaining a cleaner environment
(Raidi/Agung)
