TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Brantas River's upstream catchment area is at a critical stage. Recent findings have concluded that around half of the springs that feeds the river has dried up and/or have been destroyed by property developments.
"Ten years ago, there were 421 spring water sources upstream of Brantas river, which were spread across Batu, Mojokerto, and Pasuruan," said the Chairman of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment's (WALHI) East Java's chapter, Purnawan D. Negara, on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
Purnawan is calling on local governments, especially Batu's Administration - as the majority of the springs are located in the vicinity of Batu - to improve its' town planning and property zoning, as well as to designate more areas as protected or conservation zones. "We need to free up more spaces to protect our springs," he said.
Furthermore, Batu's Administration needs to launch a full-scale analysis into the matter, said Purnawan, especially since many Batu residents rely on the river to irrigate their crops, as well as a source for clean, drinking water.
The survival of the springs is considered of a vital importance as Brantas river runs a 320 km course that passes through 14 regencies and towns across East Java.
The Head of Batu's Environmental Agency, Hari Santoso, agrees that the Brantas river's upstream catchment area needs to be protected. "We will assist the effort by providing 1,500 seedlings to help reforest the damaged area," he said.
That said, Purnawan referred to one of Brantas river's spring - which is at a risk of disappearing altogether - at the village of Bulukerto at Bumiaji district in Batu. The spring's flow has continued to decrease, which is suspected to be caused by the unregulated conversion of catchment areas into farmlands, as well as the construction of the Rayja Batu Cottage.
EKO WIDIANTO | EDWIN FAJERIAL
