Clogged with weeds, the river barely functioned as a drainage channel or as a throughway for boats.
Given its state, the river connecting the Biuku River or Andai River to the Awang River was mostly left ignored.
But, after the river was selected by the Banjarmasin City Environmental Office as one of the 30 rivers that would be cleaned up as part of its contest, the 2022 Maharagu River Cleanup Competition, the area around it has become accessible.
Besides the opening of space around it, the river has also been beautified, with various trees planted on its banks, weeds removed, and tourism facilities such as a café and a selfie spot created near it.
On the river, a pier has also been built by locals, under the command of the river's stakeholder or leader, for jukung (canoes) sailing upstream and downstream.
In this way, the contest has created a new small-scale attraction.
Head of environmental management at the Banjarmasin Environmental Office, Dwi Naniek M., who is a part of the organizing committee for the competition, said that the activity has fuelled enthusiasm among the community and is changing their mindset toward rivers, as well as demonstrating the creativity and the hard work put in by communities whose area has been included in the contest.
Thanks to the contest, there are several other rivers that have been cleaned up and turned into attractions, such as the Terusan Banyiur River in Alalak Tengah village, Central Banjarmasin sub-district.
The Terusan Banyiur River has been developed as a water sports attraction by local residents with the encouragement of officials.
With the locals planting various ornamental and green plants, garbage is no longer visible in the river, and the water that flows through it is relatively clean, or not cloudy.
Now, every day children can play and swim at the Terusan Banyiur River that flows into a settlement complex.
People bathe and play in the river’s waters, and use the available inflatable boats for river crossings.
According to the local village head, Ari, the area will be further developed into a city-scale tourist center and more facilities will be added, including inflatable boats, spots for selfies, and free water boom rides.
Other rivers that have been beautified through the Maharagu competition include the Gardu River, Guring River, Kuin River, Pekapuran River, and Tatah Cina River.
The activity has even earned praise from the Banjarmasin City Legislative Body (DPRD).
Banjarmasin DPRD member Hilyah Aulia expressed the hope that the competition, which has been held seven times, will raise public awareness on the importance of maintaining river cleanliness.
Meanwhile, residents' participation in the activity is needed considering that the city's Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (DPUPR) and the Environmental Office have limited manpower and funding for maintaining the cleanliness of rivers.
In view of this limitation, efforts are necessary to educate the public about the importance of preventing river pollution.
The Maharagu River Competition was announced by the Banjarmasin city government on May 21, 2022, and the committee is offering a prize of Rp10 million for the first place winner, while the second place winner will receive Rp9 million, and the third place winner Rp8 million.
Meanwhile, the first runner-up will get Rp5.5 million, the second runner-up Rp5 million, and the third runner-up Rp4.5 million, in addition to charters and trophies.
The competition stage began with a preliminary meeting at the Banjarmasin city government’s office when the organizers and an assistance team tasked with bridging communication between the participating river stakeholders and the judges were introduced.
The meeting discussed the rivers, the sizes of the rivers, as well as the stakeholders who would be involved in the competition.
The second meeting before the competition was attended by stakeholders, assistance or companion teams, organizers, and judges, and was followed up with a first-stage assessment through on-site visits.
The second phase of the assessment was also completed, and at the end of August, the third or final stage of assessment will be conducted to determine the champions, who will be announced on the anniversary of Banjarmasin city on September 24.
All parties expect the river cleanliness initiative to be continued by the community even after the competition is over so that the rivers do not become dirty again.
Clean and gorgeous rivers in Banjarmasin city are expected to last long, and what must be focused on is realigning people's behavior so they come to love the river and its environs.
People are expected to no longer consider rivers as places to throw garbage in, but as life itself, which provides clean water, allows transportation, and functions as drainage.
Another important thing is to make rivers a magnet for the local economy by turning them into tourist attractions.
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Translator: Imam H, Hasan Z, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
