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Have you ever imagined what it would be like if the oxygen in the air that we
breathe today just vanished? We certainly wouldn't be able to survive, as it is
the main lifeline for us as humans. Similarly, the rivers flowing at the
foothills of mountains are increasingly threatened by pollution due to human
actions driven by profit without considering their impact.
Rivers are the main source of life if we look at the history of civilization
in Egypt when the Nile River became the source of their economy, transportation
and energy. How sad it would be for us with the advancement of technology and
human capabilities today if it was not utilized towards preserving and utilizing
this natural heritage for the common good.
Therefore, it is imperative to identify efforts to maintain the cleanliness of
our rivers so that it's not too late, just like the Malay proverb "Regret first
profit, regret later useless".
The main proposition in ensuring the cleanliness of rivers specifically and the
environment in general is to cultivate awareness among the public about the
importance of preserving rivers. Steps to open the eyes of every member of
society about river cleanliness are not impossible because it starts from
ourselves. If we engage in any activities in river areas such as fishing or just
passing through river areas, we must ensure that there is no litter or it is
disposed of properly in the trash cans provided. If there is no facility to
dispose of waste, we must fully be responsible to ensure that the waste we
produce is disposed of in the right place.
This is the main scenario in our country where there is still floating waste
in the river, and the authorities have to spend a lot to make waste treatment
centers in the rivers that are critically contaminated. If every member of
society takes responsibility for the cleanliness of rivers and their
surroundings, there will surely be no pollution and our rivers will be like
rivers in Japan and South Korea.
At the same time, the enforcement of laws by government officers or authorities
should be carried out. Regular monitoring of river cleanliness and the use of
higher levels of cleanliness in the analysis of river water cleanliness are the
best initiatives. The Malay proverb says, "scoop the sauce all the way to the
elbow" is similar to the scenario in ensuring the cleanliness of our rivers
where the optimum level of cleanliness should be the measuring stick so that
pollution can be avoided and the natural ecosystem can be restored.
A clean river has great potential as a source of raw water and allows for
economic activities such as fish farming, sports activities, and recreation to
be carried out without the risk of pollution. Therefore, firm and fast action
should be taken by the authorities if they succeed in catching individuals or
groups who carry out activities that can pollute the river. |
