River Rangers Training

River Rangers is no more exclusively for the officers in rural area, but in urban area as well or else the urban rivers will never be cleaned and improved. This is the message disseminated to the participants of Smart Rangers Training last Saturday at MBPJ. A joint program with State Government of Selangor and GEC. A total of 35 participants from MBPJ, MPSJ and MBSA took part in the 1 day training which included field trip to the source and end of Sungai Penchala. The purpose then is to let participants to see, to feel and to taste the different quality of water. The impact is great as participants started asking why the quality is so much different after the River flowing through urban area of KL and PJ.

Many of them agreed that the answer is relied on residents, our attitude caring about the river. Many have also agreed that while caring for river is important, taking care of our pipe flowing out from our kitchen as well as the drains at our backyard are equally critical. Many forgot about making sure the drains are clean and without pollutant. This is the source of river pollution. Collectively if all individual takes care about their drains, we believe that the rivers do not need special attention. In this instance, we always look for the forest, but ignore the tree.

The participants were taught about rivers and their functions, techniques to monitor and measure quality of water, organise actions to look after the rivers and partnership with others stakeholders. It is an exploratory and educational trip.

It is also part of Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya 10th Anniversary Celebration.