Martapura River development must be integrated: acting governor

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Acting Governor of South Kalimantan Safrizal ZA requested that Sungai Martapura Bungas (the Beautiful Martapura River) program is not just jargon but must be implemented in an integrated manner.


"The program requires action, not just jargon. Realizing expectations must be with concrete actions," he said after the launching of Sungai Martapura Bungas (which stands for clean, superior, beautiful) program on the commemoration of World Environment Day 2021 in Banjar District, Saturday.

Safrizal asked the program to be followed up in several government working units (SKPD). "This Bungas program will enter activities of SKPDs, such as Public Works, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Forestry, Environment, Development Planning Board (Bappeda), and others that are related as an integrated program," he pointed out.

According to Safrizal, improvement of the environment takes a long time. It needs a very strong commitment from the local government.

Read also: South Kalimantan's Riam Kiwa dam in process of site preparation

Meanwhile, the Head of South Kalimantan Environment Agency Hanifah Dwi Nirwana said this program uses the concept of restoration and rediscovery.

"Why rediscovery, because we will return the Martapura River to be the lifeblood of the local community to increase the carrying capacity of the river for the people's lives," he said.

The program also to improve the water quality of the Martapura River. Currently, the results of the water quality monitoring are moderately polluted.

"If the water quality is better it will certainly have an impact on public health, increasing tourism, creative economy, for example, people on the riverbanks can sell their works, such as fish product, agriculture, this is a comprehensive work, not just about cleaning," he said.

Read also: South Kalimantan's 3,699 Hajj candidates welcomed to apply for refund
Read also: ULM to open campus for face-to-face lectures