LETTERS: Kuala Lumpur has embarked on the River of Life project, which is lauded by all, for a number of years now. Many are anxious to know the outcome of the initiative.
Those familiar with a similar undertaking in Seoul, South Korea, would vouch that such projects bring immense benefits to the tourism sector. I learned that before the Seoul river was revived, no one would dare venture near it due to its overpowering stench.
Maintaining it, of course, presents another challenge.
It is unfortunate that we take our rivers for granted. We do not take good care of them and dump rubbish and waste into them.
The latest report on the state of our rivers paints a sad picture. Many rivers are in deplorable shape. The water supply disruptions in the Klang Valley are testimony to the neglected state of our rivers, in this case, Sungai Selangor.
After a recent engagement with a colleague, who has spent years addressing environmental challenges, I am convinced of the idea we are all looking for.
Datuk Abu Bakar Jaafar, a fellow of the Academy of Science, has always been passionate about sharing ideas about the environment. His strong interest in the topic is understandable since he was a former director-general of the Department of the Environment. He has donned many hats in his illustrious career. The latest one is championing the Ocean Thermal Energy, another potential source of renewable energy for the world. Now, as the chairman of Green Technology Corporation, he is never short of ideas.
Water is one of them. He recently shared how to solve the issue of rampant pollution in our rivers. He has proposed to the government to establish a River Basin Authority for every river basin in the country, especially the major ones.
Through the authority, the nation can implement a more sensitive water-tariff regime to stop water overuse and wastage, strictly apply the polluters-pay principle and explore ways to generate sources of revenue, including hydro-power generation, aquaculture, riverine tourism, sports, recreation and other ecological services.
At the moment, there is no such authority to monitor our rivers. A water supply agency like Air Selangor only looks after the treatment of raw water from rivers to supply clean water to the communities and industries.
The agency is not responsible for the cleanliness of rivers as a source of raw water intake. It is time the government instituted such an authority to better manage our rivers. The authority should be given the responsibilty to manage the entire river basin, upstream at the water catchment source and right to the end at the river mouth before it flows into the sea.
This way, the wellbeing of rivers will come under the jurisdiction of one dedicated authority. River pollution would be better addresssed and reduced — a big step in resolving water supply disruptions, which have been occurring too often.
The River Basin Authority can even self-finance itself if it monetises its services by using the rivers as an asset.
Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim
Fellow, Academy of Science, UCSI University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times