BALINEWSID.COM, DEPOK — Deputy Environment Minister and Deputy Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) Diaz Hendropriyono has called for greater use of the Ciliwung River’s potential, from controlling riverbank erosion to developing renewable energy through micro-hydropower.

Diaz made the remarks while touring the Ciliwung River in Depok on Sunday (Sept. 27, 2026), as part of activities marking World Rivers Day 2026. The river conservation campaign was held simultaneously at nine locations across Indonesia, stretching from the Greater Jakarta area to Surabaya and Bali.

Diaz said several sections of the Ciliwung River were vulnerable to erosion and proposed planting elo trees along the riverbanks to help stabilize the soil.

“We see that the Ciliwung River is somewhat vulnerable to erosion, so elo trees need to be planted along the riverbanks to prevent it,” Diaz said.

He said the trees’ root systems could extend deep into the soil and help strengthen the riverbanks. Bamboo could also be planted as part of the riverbank protection effort, he added.

Diaz also highlighted the presence of invasive fish, particularly suckermouth catfish, commonly known in Indonesia as ikan sapu-sapu, which he said could contribute to erosion by creating underwater burrows near riverbanks.

“One of the factors affecting erosion is the suckermouth catfish. These fish create holes underwater around the riverbanks,” Diaz said.

He also praised environmental activists involved in removing invasive fish from the Ciliwung River.

Beyond erosion control, Diaz said the river’s relatively strong flow could potentially be harnessed to generate electricity through a micro-hydropower plant.

“The Ciliwung has a strong enough flow for activities such as whitewater rafting. This means there is elevation that could potentially be developed for micro-hydropower,” he said.

Diaz said several preliminary measures would be needed before such a project could be developed. These could include installing trash booms to control floating waste and establishing wetlands to help absorb pollutants.

“After that, we can develop micro-hydropower,” he said.

Diaz also stressed the importance of maintaining the cleanliness and function of rivers, which he described as vital sources of life but also potential sources of disasters if poorly managed.

He noted that significant amounts of waste were still present along the Ciliwung, while buildings could also be found within the river’s designated buffer zone.

“Rivers are important as a source of life, but they can also become a source of disasters,” Diaz said. “We saw that there is still a lot of waste, and there are still buildings along the river buffer zone.”

He expressed hope that World Rivers Day would help raise public awareness about the importance of protecting rivers.

The World Rivers Day 2026 event was attended by Alia Jumhur Hidayat, Chair of the KLH/BPLH Dharma Wanita Persatuan Advisory Board; Depok Deputy Mayor Chandra Rahmansyah; Deputy Speaker I of the Depok City Council Yetty Wulandari; Pertamina Gas Negara Finance Director Catur Dermawan; Head of Environment and Circular Economy Sector Cooperation at the Embassy of Denmark Line Victoria Jensen; and other senior KLH/BPLH officials.