BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — Chairman of the Bali Democratic Party Regional Executive Board (DPD) Made Mudarta has called for village-based waste management as a solution to Bali’s growing environmental challenges. He stressed that waste should be handled at its source so it does not move from one village to another or eventually end up in the sea.

Mudarta made the statement while attending community competitions held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Democratic Party at the Denpasar City Democratic Party office on Sunday (August 23, 2026). The event was also part of the party’s “Langit Biru Indonesia Asri” environmental movement.

Mudarta said loving Bali must be demonstrated by keeping the island clean and changing people’s behavior toward waste disposal.

“Loving Bali means keeping it clean. It is not enough to simply clean up waste; people must also stop littering,” Mudarta said.

He proposed strengthening waste management at the village level by providing adequate funding and facilities. According to him, village funds should not be reduced but instead strengthened so that each village can independently manage and process its own waste.

“Our spirit is that loving Bali means keeping it clean. Waste must be managed and resolved at the village level, so there is no waste moving from one village to another,” he said.

Mudarta also stressed the importance of sorting waste at the household level, particularly by separating organic and inorganic waste before it enters the waste management system.

He said village-based waste management, supported by appropriate technology and facilities, could not only improve environmental conditions but also create new economic opportunities for rural communities.

“If the budget is increased, every village will be able to process its own waste. When waste is handled in the village, there will be no need to move it from one village to another, and economic activity can grow within the village,” he said.

Mudarta also urged the government to accelerate river normalization ahead of the rainy season. He highlighted problems affecting several rivers in Bali, including the Badung River, where flooding has occurred.

He said the period before the rainy season should be used to dredge and normalize rivers to reduce the risk of flooding.

“Now is the right momentum to carry out normalization. All rivers need to be normalized,” Mudarta said.

He pointed to human activities, including narrowing river channels and development around waterways, as factors that have affected river conditions.

“We hope the government can take action so that when the rainy season arrives, flooding can be prevented,” he said.

Mudarta said environmental protection remains part of the Democratic Party’s commitment, including through the “Langit Biru Indonesia Asri” movement. The initiative involves not only cleaning public spaces but also planting and caring for trees.

“Caring for the Earth means not allowing land to become barren, not cutting down trees, but planting trees through actions such as ours,” he said.

He added that environmental protection is also in line with the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, particularly the principle of maintaining harmony between humans and nature.

Meanwhile, Bali Democratic Party cadre Tutik Kusuma Wardani called on party members to uphold loyalty, dedication, unity, tolerance and solidarity.

She also reaffirmed the Democratic Party’s commitment to supporting government programs, particularly those related to environmental protection, security and national unity.

“The Democratic Party is committed to supporting the government’s programs as a whole, including protecting the environment, maintaining security and strengthening unity so that we can welcome the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045,” Tutik said.

The series of events commemorating the Democratic Party’s 25th anniversary will continue until the main celebration on September 9, 2026. Mudarta expressed hope that the anniversary momentum would further strengthen the party’s connection with the community while encouraging concrete action to protect Bali’s environment.