Cegah Kasus Buyat Terjadi di Citarum (Re: Heavy Metal Pollution of Citarum River)

Source: Pikiran Rakyat

BANDUNG, (PR).-
Pemerintah diminta segera membentuk tim yang independen untuk meneliti keberadaan logam berat dengan toksisitas tinggi yang telah mencemari air Sungai Citarum. Hasil penelitian tim yang terdiri dari sejumlah ahli berbagai disiplin ilmu itu tidak hanya dilaporkan ke pemerintah, tapi juga dipublikasikan secara luas dan transparan kepada publik.

"Ini persoalan serius karena sudah menyangkut urusan nyawa manusia dan anak cucu kita, sehingga tak bisa lagi dianggap enteng. Kami minta pemerintah segera melakukan upaya-upaya segera, jangan sampai menunggu kasus Buyat terjadi di Citarum, baru pemerintah bereaksi," ujar Ketua Koordinator Laboratorium Pusat Penelitian Sumber Daya Alam dan Lingkungan (PPSDAL), Drs. Hilmi Salim, M.Sc. saat ditemui di PPSDAL, Selasa (27/7).

English Translation (Courtesy MS Water)

The Government was asked immediately to form the independent team to research the heavy existence of metal with contain high toxide that polluted the Citarum river. The results of the research team that consisted of several experts of various discipline only were not reported to the government, but also was published widely and transparently to the public.

"This is serious problem because of being related to the human life and our grandchild, so could not be considered light. We asked the government to carry out efforts immediately, and do not wait the Buyat case happen in Citarum, just the government reacted”, the Chairman and the Environment of the Coordinator of the Laboratory of the Center of the Research of Nature resources (PPSDAL), Drs. Hilmi Salim, M. Sc said when being found in PPSDAL, on Tuesday (27/7). * Additional english translation available at end of article *

Ditegaskannya, urgensi pembentukan tim yang concern terhadap lingkungan ini karena ketercemaran aliran Sungai Citarum dari logam-logam berat seperti timbal (Pb), seng (Zn), besi (Fe), krom (Cr), dan merkuri (Hg), sudah berlangsung lama. Untuk itu, langkah pemeriksaan harus segera dilakukan.

Selain terhadap sampel air Sungai Citarum, lumpur Waduk Cirata, Saguling, dan Jatiluhur serta planktonnya, menurut Hilmi, pemeriksaan juga harus dilakukan terhadap warga sekitar yang terbiasa mengonsumsi ikan dari Waduk Saguling dan Cirata. "Kadar merkuri dalam tubuh manusia bisa dideteksi melalui pemeriksaan terhadap rambut, darah, urine, maupun fesesnya," katanya.

”Septic tank” raksasa

Sejak tahun 1982, lanjutnya, PPSDAL sudah mulai mengingatkan akan bahayanya kandungan logam-logam berat di Waduk Saguling yang berasal dari aliran Sungai Citarum. Pemantauan yang dilakukan setiap tiga bulan sekali mendapati kadar logam berat selalu naik dari tahun ke tahun. Hasil pemantauan selalu dilaporkan kepada instansi terkait. "Tapi sampai sekarang belum ada langkah nyata dari pemerintah," ujarnya menyesalkan.

Hasil pemantauan terakhir menunjukkan, ikan yang hidup di Waduk Saguling atau Sungai Citarum secara umum mengandung unsur logam berat, seperti Zn, H2S, Fe, Mn, Cr, dan Hg. "Sebenarnya Waduk Saguling dan Cirata sudah tidak layak lagi dimanfaatkan untuk kegiatan budidaya ikan," katanya.

Dikatakannya, selain sampah rumah tangga, sumber pencemar sungai berasal dari industri di kawasan Bandung yang dibuang ke Sungai Cikapundung kemudian masuk ke Citarum. Begitu juga limbah industri dari kawasan industri Banjaran yang dibuang ke Sungai Cisangkuy dan mengalir ke Sungai Citarum serta industri di Majalaya yang langsung mengalir ke Sungai Citarum. "Makanya Waduk Saguling itu seperti septic tank raksasa yang menampung semua limbah baik domestik maupun industri yang masuk ke aliran Sungai Citarum," ujar Hilmi.

Rencana relokasi

Sementara itu, pakar lingkungan hidup dari Lembaga Penelitian Universitas Padjadjaran (Lemlit Unpad) Bandung Dr. Chay Asdak mengharapkan, rencana relokasi industri-industri di wilayah cekungan Bandung ke wilayah lain di Jawa Barat, tidak menjadi dalih untuk mencari tempat lain yang sebetulnya tidak sesuai dijadikan zona kawasan industri terpadu. Relokasi itu harus dipastikan dilakukan di wilayah yang bukan merupakan kawasan konservasi dan hutan alam, kendati memiliki potensi energi untuk dikembangkan.

"Rencana relokasi itu sebetulnya sudah dicuatkan para pemerhati lingkungan sejak 10 atau 15 tahun lalu, karena memang tingkat pencemaran Sungai Citarum yang membelah Bandung dan Jabar sudah sangat kritis. Relokasi itulah solusi yang paling bijak dilakukan dalam situasi sekarang," ungkap Chay Asdak usai rapat dengar pendapat antara para pakar dengan tim pengkaji jalan alternatif Dago-Lembang di Gedung DPRD Jawa Barat, Selasa (27/7). Chay dimintai pendapatnya tentang pencemaran sungai Citarum akibat limbah dan polusi industri.

Hanya saja, tegasnya, dalam pelaksanaannya relokasi itu harus mempertimbangkan wilayah yang akan dijadikan pusat kawasan industri terpadu. "Harus dipilih wilayah yang benar-benar sesuai. Tidak bisa misalnya dilakukan di wilayah penghasil energi panas bumi (geothermal) di Kab. Garut. Meski ada potensi energi, wilayah itu termasuk konservasi dan hutan lindung," ujarnya.

Menurut Chay, secara teknis untuk relokasi harus ada identifikasi terlebih dahulu. "Industri di Cekungan Bandung dan membuang limbah berat terutama ke Sungai Citarum, tentu saja harus dipindahkan. Tapi untuk soft industrial seperti silicon valley yang juga direncanakan dikembangkan ITB di Bandung, tidak menjadi persoalan. Sebab, industri berbasis teknologi itu tidak menghasilkan limbah melampaui batas ambang," katanya.

Antisipatif

Di sisi lain Chay mengkritik kebijakan pemegang otoritas (Pemprov Jabar dan Pemkot/Kab. Bandung) yang dinilainya selalu mengeluarkan tindakan yang reaktif merespons persoalan pencemaran akibat limbah industri. "Kebijakan yang dikembangkan seharusnya bersifat antisipatif, artinya berdimensi jauh ke depan dengan perencanaan dan tindakan yang berkesinambungan. Mereka selalu merespons hanya setelah ada kasus yang dimunculkan publik," ujarnya.

Ia mengatakan data tingkat pencemaran Sungai Citarum selalu dirilis oleh Lembaga Ekologi (PPASDAL) Unpad dalam bentuk time series (berkala) setiap tiga bulan. "Seharusnya itu sudah cukup dijadikan acuan oleh pemegang otoritas, dalam hal ini BPLHD Provinsi Jabar untuk menindaklanjutinya dengan tindakan cepat. Bukankah mereka memiliki man power (SDM) dan peralatan yang memadai untuk melakukannya," ujarnya.

Chay berharap kultur yang sekadar reaktif dari birokrasi pemerintahan itu bisa secepatnya diubah. "Dalam era keterbukaan seperti sekarang, sudah bukan saatnya mengembangkan manajemen pemerintahan yang tertutup," urainya.

Bukan PETI

Kecurigaan Sungai Citarum tercemar merkuri dari buangan penambang emas tanpa ijin (PETI) di Kab. Bandung, belum dapat dibuktikan secara nyata. Sejauh ini belum ditemukan gurandil atau penambang emas ilegal yang mengolah emas di hulu anak Sungai Citarum. Jika pun ada, jumlah mereka sangat kecil, sehingga kemungkinan mencemari Sungai Citarum tidak sebesar apa yang diungkapkan berbagai kalangan.

Atas dasar itu, kemungkinan besar unsur merkuri yang terdapat dalam air Citarum berasal dari industri-industri yang berdiri di sepanjang sempadan anak sungai tersebut. "Yang kami tahu, penambangan emas di hulu anak Sungai Citarum baru eksplorasi belum sampai ke tahap eksploitasi," jelas Kepala Dinas Lingkungan Hidup Pemkab Bandung, Ir. Mulyaningrum, yang dijumpai di kantornya, Selasa (2/7).

Menurutnya, selain industri, limbah domestik (rumah tangga) memberi kontribusi cukup besar dalam mencemari anak Sungai Citarum, yakni mencapai 70,94%. Selebinya limbah pertanian 17,51%, limbah peternakan 3,16%, dan limbah rumah sakit 0.04%.

Penambangan liar

Sementara itu, Menteri Lingkungan Hidup (LH), Nabiel Makarim mengakui selama ini penambangan liar kerap kali menadi persoalan yang merepotkan dan terjadi di mana-mana. Untuk itu, secara kelembagaan, pihaknya telah mencari solusi pemecahannya. Demikian diungkapkan Nabiel menanggapi banyaknya kerusakan lingkungan yang diakibatkan oleh penambangan liar.

Menurut Nabiel salah satu cara yang kini sedang ditelapkan di Kalimantan Selatan yaitu dengan cara pendaftaran penambangan liar. Ia mengakui langkah ini adalah solusi sementara untuk menanggulangi dampak dari terjadinya penambangan liar.

"Seperti kita ketahui, selain terjadinya kerusakan lingkungan, bekas penambangan tersebut juga terjadi peningkatan racun yang diakibatkan dari aktivitas penambangan itu, yaitu tingginya kadar merkuri, makanya perlu langkah segera untuk mengatasinya," katanya.

English Translation (Courtesy MS Water)

He said, the urgency of forming the team which is concerning to environment because the Citarum River stream has been long time contaminated of heavy metals such us (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), chrome (Cr), and mercury (Hg). So that, investigation step has to be done immediately.
Besides to sample of water of Citarum River, mud of reservoir in Cirata, Saguling, and Jatiluhur and also its plankton, according to Hilmi, investigation also must be done to surounding citizen which consumes fish from Saguling and Cirata reservoirs. " Rate of Mercury in human body can be detected through medical check to hair, blood, urine, and feces,” he said.

Huge ”Septic tank”

Since year 1982, he is continuing, PPSDAL has started to remind the danger of heavy metals content in Saguling reservoir coming from river stream of Citarum. Monitoring once every three months discover heavy metal rate always raise up from year to year. The result of monitoring always reported to related institution. "But there is no real step of government until now," he said rue.

The last monitoring result shows, in general fish life in Saguling reservoir or Citarum River contains heavy metals, like Zn, H2S, Fe, Mn, Cr, and Hg. " In fact Saguling and Cirata reservoir are no longer utilized for fish cultivation activity," he said.

He telling, besides household garbage, polluter source of the river come from industries in Bandung area thrown to Cikapundung River then flows to Citarum. Also industrial waste from Banjaran industrial area thrown to Cisangkuy River and flows to Citarum River and industries in Majalaya also flows direct to Citarum River. "Hence Saguling reservoir is like a huge septic tank which collecting all industrial and domestic waste flowing into Citarum river stream," say Hilmi.

Relocation plan

Meanwhile, the expert of environment of Research Department of Padjadjaran University (Lemlit Unpad) in Bandung, Dr. Chay Asdak expects relocation plan of industries in Bandung Valley to other area in West Java, does not become excuse to find other place where inappropriate as industrial zone. That relocation has to be ascertained in area where not as a conservation area and natural forest, even has potency to be developed.

"The relocation plan actually has been sounded by environmental observers since last 10 or 15 year, because it is true that contamination in Citarum River crossing Bandung and of West Java has been very critical. The relocation is the most wise solution done in present situation," express Chay Asdak after bring storming meeting between all experts and study team of alternative road of Dago-Lembang in DPRD of West Java Building, Tuesday (27/7). Chay asked his opinion about contamination of Citarum river effected by industrial waste.

He specify that in its implementation the relocation has to consider the area where become industrial integrated area. "Should select an appropriate area. We can not select an area producing geothermal energy for example in Garut Regency. Even there is potency of energy, that area including conservation area and forest," he said.

According to Chay, technically the relocation there must identification beforehand. "Industries in Bandung valley who dump heavy waste especially to Citarum River, of course have to be removed. But for the soft industry like the silicon valley planned to be developed by ITB in Bandung, does not a problem. Because, this industry base on technology and does not produce waste above allowed standard," he said.

Anticipate

On the other side Chay criticize the policy of authority owner (West Java Province and of Regencies of Bandung) which always over reactive to response the contamination problem caused by industrial waste. "Policy developed should be anticipatively, means it has dimension far away forwards with planning and action sustainability. They always response only after a case appears to public," he said.

He tell that data pollution degree of Citarum River always released by Ecology Institute (PPASDAL) of Unpad in the form of quarterly series. "it should be enough to take as reference for authority owner, in this case is BPLHD of West Java Province to do something quickly. Aren't they have man power and adequate equipments to do so," he said.

Chay hopes culture which reactive merely reactive of that bureaucracy in government can be changed quickly. "In the transparancy era like now, have not the time to develop closed management in the government," decompose him.

Not IGM

Suspicion of Citarum River polluted by mercury from Illegal Gold Mineworker (IGM) in Kabupaten Bandung has not been proved manifestly. So far has not been found yet the illegal mineworker processing gold in Citarum upstream. If even there, amount of them is very small, so the possibility to contaminate the Citarum River does not as big as laid up by a certain people.

Based on that, big possibility the containing mercury in the Citarum River is because pollution from industries placed along the river and its tributaries. "What we know, gold mining in Citarum River basin is just exploration and not yet exploitation phase yet," clear of the Head of Environmental Agency of Pemkab Bandung, Ir. Mulyaningrum, met at her office, Tuesday (2/7).

According to him, besides industry, domestic waste (household) giving big enough contribution in contaminating Citarum and its tributaries river, i.e. reach 70,94%. On top of that, agriculture waste 17,51%, husbandry waste 3,16%, and hospital waste 0.04%.

Illegal Mining

Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment (LH), Nabiel Makarim confess illegal mining always creates problem during the time and happened everywhere. Therefore, institutely, his side searched the solution. That laid up by Nabiel responding so many environmental damages caused by illegal mining.

According to Nabiel one of the way which applied in South Kalimantan nowadays is registration of illegal mining. He confess this action is a temporary solution to handle the impact from illegal mining.

"As we know, besides the damages of environment, in the ex-mining also happened the increasing poison that caused by mining activities, i.e. height rate of mercury, that is way need action to solve the problem immediately," he said