Sentiong River Cleaned Up, VP Kalla Claims It No Longer Stinky

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) on Friday, August 3, inspected the 2018 Asian Games athletes dorm in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. Other than checking the facilities, JK also visited Sentiong River or notably known as Kali Item (black river).

Sentiong River was made public limelight since Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan decided to cover up the river with a giant nylon net in a bid to reduce its nasty smell.

Kalla said the river was no longer stinky. As a proof, he even ate a banana together with Anies, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, and Inasgoc head Eric Thohir.

Read: Expert Criticizes Anies Baswedan's Black River Net Solution 

“Is it stinky? It's not, isn't it? It only smells banana. So [Sentiong River] is no longer stinky,” said the Jusuf Kalla while eating the banana at the edge of the Sentiong river, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The city administration installed a black giant nylon net to cover up the 700-meter river which adjacent to the athlete dorm since weeks ago due to its nauseating smells.

Sentiong River is located between Jl. Rd. H. Keneng Mudatsir and Jl. Sunter Jaya. The household and industry wastewater were said to cause the black water and produced foul smells which likely disturb the 18th Asian Games athletes. 

FRISKI RIANA