Garbage Scattered Along Muara Batang Arau Padang

Padang (ANTARA) - Garbage from community waste has piled up on the banks of Muara Batang Arau, Padang City, West Sumatra, destroying the beauty of the environment and also produced terrible smell.

From Antara's observation at the location, Tuesday's pile of garbage did not only come from household waste, but there were also many shipwrecks which were damaged along the estuary.
"There used to be, but now it's not," said Nia Batang Arau resident when interviewed about the government's concern for the Batang Arau environment.

Teddy Antonius as the Head of the South Padang Sub-district said that there had been many efforts made by the sub-district to maintain the beauty of the Batang Arau area.

“We get support from foreign countries on how to keep the water in the estuary good. We have been trying for 2 years,” said Teddy at the Padang Selatan sub-district office, Tuesday (13/7).

The community around there has received education about waste management so that it is not polluted, but not a few people are not indifferent to this.

"However, now there has been a change, because their behavior has changed and there are already groups that process household waste." Teddy continued.

In addition to the South Padang sub-district, the Padang City Environmental Service also needs to pay attention to waste pollution in the Batang Arau area and provide strict sanctions against polluters.

"We have local regulations number 21 of 2012 and Perwako number 26 of 2019. For people who do not manage their waste properly, a fine of five million and three months imprisonment," said Mairizon, Head of the Environmental Service of Padang City when interviewed, Tuesday (13-13). /7).

The garbage in Muara Batang Arau does not only come from local residents, but is also caused by factory, market, and industrial waste from upstream of Padang City.

“The garbage comes from the upstream of the river. So Batang Arau is one of many rivers in Padang City.” Add Mairizon.
"At least, there are provided trash cans along the riverside road, because the garbage also comes from visitors and broken fishing boats." Said Syauqi, one of the visitors to the Kota Tua Siti Nurbaya, Padang.

Thus, the pollution of household waste and canoes on the banks of Muara Batang Arau, Padang City, needs further attention to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of Padang City. Plus, Batang Arau is also close to the Siti Nurbaya tourist attraction area.(*)