Kampung Biru a model for Banjarmasin's riverbank development

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Banjarmasin Mayor H Ibnu Sina said that the residential area of Kampung Hijau and Kampung Biru in Sungai Bilu, East Banjarmasin, were models for the city's riverbank development with the concept of waterfront city.

"This concept makes the river a front porch, so residents no longer throw garbage there," he said here, Wednesday.

Ibnu Sina described the concept to a doctoral student of the Erlangga University's Faculty of Public Health, Herawati, who is conducting research entitled "Development of comprehensive multisectoral system, river waste management in the context of Banjarmasin as a health city".

The development of Kampung Biru and Kampung Hijau (all houses are painted according to the designation of the kampung) began in 2017, not only to make residential areas look beautiful but aimed to reduce the people habit of throwing garbage into the river.

"Formerly, because of the part of the house facing the river was the kitchen or the back of the house, it made it easier for residents to throw garbage to the river," he said.

The city government then built a bridge dividing the houses so that the part of the houses facing the river became the front.

"This concept is quite successful, even the economy develops as it becomes a tourist destination," said Ibnu Sina.

He stated that this concept of development will be continued, because of most of the settlements in the City of a Thousand Rivers are on the banks of the river.

"The tourism icon of our city is a river, so it must be properly arranged without losing its identity," he said.

Ibnu Sina explained that the 494-year-old city has received several awards from the central government regarding its various arrangements, including the award of Swasti Saba Padapa, Swasti Saba Wiwerda, and Swasti Saba Wistara.

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