TEMPO.CO, Semarang - The Central Java Police launched an investigation into the pollution in Bengawan Solo River. The longest river on the Java island is polluted as its water changed color and produced an awful smell.

Central Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Iqbal Alqudusy said the police had examined companies and home industries located around the river, including two villages as the traditional drink industry centers in Sukoharjo regency. “The two villages are Mojolaban and Polokarto,” said Iqbal on Monday, September 13.

The initial investigation results revealed that Polokarto Village did not own a wastewater management installation yet. To date, entrepreneurs of the traditional drinks, commonly known as ciu, used the waste as fertilization and disposed of them to farms and rivers.

“Some are dumped in Samin River,” he said, mentioning Samin River, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo River.

According to him, no toxic and hazardous waste (B3 waste) was detected in the watershed. “But investigators find indications of non-B3 waste disposal around the river,” Iqbal added.

The two companies had also turned out to have received administrative sanctions from the Central Java Environment and Forestry Agency because of waste issues.

The Central Java Regional Police would then ask for a list of companies near Bengawan Solo River that have been sanctioned by the Central Java Environment and Forestry Agency for violating the rules on waste management. “In order to see to what extent do the companies implement the administrative sanctions,” Iqbal concluded.

Read: Polluted Bengawan Solo

JAMAL A NASHR