UB Irrigation Engineering initiated a river cleaning activity to clean up sediment and garbage flowing in irrigation channels that have turned into drainage channels. The event entitled “Rempah” (Resik-resik Sampah) or garbage cleaning was launched directly by the Chancellor of Universitas Brawijaya in the Rectorate field, Sunday morning (1/9/2024).
“Rempah” is a routine river cleaning activity held every two years since 2022. In addition to cleaning the river, this activity is also accompanied by reforestation by planting trees at 97 points.
According to the Head of the Irrigation Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Ir. Runi Asmaranto, ST., MT., IPM, this activity is a community service funded from outside the campus.
In an effort to care for rivers and maintain the environment in Malang City, UB Irrigation Engineering collaborated with the Lions Club Malang Indah and involved several stakeholders from PUPR PKP, DLH, the surrounding community, and several PU consultants.
The gathering point for this activity is on Angklung Street, Tunggul Wulung.
Runi Asmaranto said that this activity was motivated by the high sediment and garbage in the river area around Malang city. This has become a trigger for community concern together to always maintain the quality of water and sediment in the drainages that flow into five rivers so that they are not polluted. The five rivers are Bango River, Brantas Hulu, Sukun River, Metro River, and Amprong River.
There are 600 volunteers involved, consisting of students and the community. This activity is said to be a form of community service, and is expected to be able to raise awareness among the people in Malang City to maintain the cleanliness of the river.
“So when we talk about waste and sediment, it is often studied, written in journals, but the real action has not been and is still very minimal, this is a form of real action by UB Water Resources Engineering students together with the community who care,” said Runi.
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering UB, in his speech said that this activity does not only solve problems in the community. After this activity, there will be a continuation which will be held on September 8th, socialization with the community, building awareness to clean the environment and clean the river, which is considered very related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in UB environment.
“There are two SDGs related to this activity, the first is related to Clean Water Sanitation, which is our challenge on how to ensure that our water supply is good, including clean water in the river. Then the second is related to Sustainable Cities and Communities, namely in the context of PKM activities which are very meaningful activities for our community in the context of awareness,” said Prof. Hadi.
UB Rector, Prof. Widodo in his speech greatly appreciated this activity. With the many elements involved in this activity, it is a very good form of communication to uphold SDGs. He considered this to be an activity that is in accordance with one of Universitas Brawijaya’s missions.
“This activity is in accordance with Universitas Brawijaya’s mission number 4, making UB a university with sustainable governance,” he said.
Furthermore, Prof. Widodo said that this river cleaning activity is a form of learning for students and the community, that cleanliness is the responsibility of every individual and everyone. It is hoped that this action can continue to form a shared concern in awareness of environmental cleanliness.
“Hopefully this movement will inspire Malang residents and the younger generation about cleanliness and SDGs so that good community development can make the Golden Indonesia in 2045,” he said. (KAN/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
