Therefore we need a strong commitment to restore the river."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and South Korea have established cooperation to restore the quality of Ciliwung River that flows through the Jakarta metropolitan area and ends up in the sea of Jakarta Bay.
The cooperation in the Ciliwung River Restoration Project was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya and South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Yeong Seon, at the yard of Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta, on Friday.
"With hard-work, commitment and cooperation, we can restore the river and make it cleaner because a clean river is an asset for the welfare of the people of Indonesia, particularly those in Jakarta," Minister Balthasar stated.
He noted that the Ciliwung restoration project was expected to be completed in June 2015, including a building for domestic waste water facility and a learning center along 500 meters of the river.
In December 2012, the environment ministers from Indonesia and South Korea signed an agreement to restore and clean up the highly polluted Ciliwung River.
The Ciliwung River, which flows from Puncak in West Java to Jakarta Bay, will be the focal point of the massive project to dredge and revitalize it.
Meanwhile, Kim Yeong Seon explained that the river restoration project was very good to be made as a guideline in the development program.
"The development is considered not just an economic issue but also environment," the South Korean ambassador noted.
He pointed out that in the past South Korea also had an environment issue. However, the leaders of the country then, made a strong commitment to resolve it.
"Therefore we need a strong commitment to restore the river," he reiterated, adding that South Korea will share its experience, expertise and technology in the Ciliwung river restoration project.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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