Metamorphosis of Poor Urban Slums

Jumarto Yulianus

· 4 minutes read

Several kampongs in the city of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, which were infamous as poor slums, have adopted a new look these days. Now clean and comfortable, they have become tourist magnets.

Sungai Jeruju kampong resident Sardi, 64, observed the Jeruju River in front of his home on Friday (11/10/2019). Several times, he pointed at the river, which flowed calmly, and shook his head. “There is already so much litter. It needs to be cleaned up again,” he said.

On a wall on Sardi’s house, there is a river cleanup schedule. Locals do the activity together on the first Saturday of every month. Sardi grew uncomfortable as he saw litter on the river. Today, local homes face the river.

The 4-meter-wide Jerujur River flows into the Barito River. The water is different from the murky Barito River. The Jeruju River is crystal clear and you can see its bottom. This is why Sardi is uncomfortable whenever he sees plastic waste on the river bottom.

Most recently, we received visitors from Malang [in East Java].

Sardi and other residents strive to keep Sungai Jeruju clean and comfortable. Nowadays, the kampong, located on narrow alleys in the suburbs of Banjarmasin, is gaining popularity among domestic and foreign tourists. “Most recently, we received visitors from Malang [in East Java],” he said.

Sardi said the kampong was infamous as a poor slum just a few years ago. The kampong comprises four neighborhood units (RT) in community unit (RW) 001, South Alalak subdistrict, North Banjarmasin, namely RT 005, RT 006, RT 007 and RT 008. Most residents live on the riverbank.

Most of the locals’ wooden houses face the narrow AR Ridha alley, which only motorcycles can pass through, and have their backs facing the river. “Of the four RT, our RT, which is RT 007, was the worst. The houses were dilapidated and disorganized,” Sardi said.

As RT 007 head, Sardi was ashamed about his neighborhood’s condition. “The Jeruju River used to be dirty as people disposed of their household waste there,” he said.

Kotaku Program

Sardi said Sungai Jeruju’s transformation began with the Kota Tanpa Kumuh (Kotaku) (City without Slums) program in 2017. Thea program targeted RT 007. More than 20 homes were repaired.

To transform the “slum” look, houses on the Jeruju’s riverbanks were renovated. Kitchens in people’s homes, which partially occupied the river’s body, were torn down. Communal septic tanks, one for every two or three houses, were built.

The old kitchens were transformed into verandahs, which were connected between homes through wooden bridges measuring 150 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Along the bridge, there are windows. From afar, the houses on the Jeruju riverbank look like one long house.

I like my house better nowadays. There is no more front side and backside. Both sides are front sides. Visitors can enter my home from anywhere they like.

The renovation kept the original wood style of the homes. The kitchens’ weathered and rickety boards were replaced with new ones. The verandahs were made to be artsy with ornaments for house numbering.

“I like my house better nowadays. There is no more front side and backside. Both sides are front sides. Visitors can enter my home from anywhere they like,” said local resident Norhayah, 65.

A similar renovation effort has taken place in local homes on the Martapura riverbank. A dilapidated neighborhood in Sungai Bilu subdistrict, East Banjarmasin, which has been revamped as Green Kampong. Meanwhile, a dilapidated neighborhood in Melayu subdistrict, central Banjarmasin, has been revamped as Blue Kampong.

In Green Kampong, all homes on the Martapura riverbank, including their walls and roofs, are painted green. In Blue Kampong, all homes are painted blue. The wooden bridge on the riverbank is now made of concrete and fenced. All houses face the river.

Tourism spot

According to M Tauhid, 50, head of RT 005 in RW 001, Sungai Bilu subdistrict, five RTs in Sungai Bilu – from RT 001 to RT 005 – have been revamped as Green Kampong. Walls and iron sheeting roofs were painted green in 2017. “Our kampong was once a slum and is now a tourism spot,” he said.

At the dock on Green Kampong Sungai Bilu, there is a board in the form of a Banjarese traditional house with a “welcome” sign. There are several selfie spots nearby. “On Sundays, we’re crowded with visitors,” said Meylia, 33, a local shop owner.

Traditional kampongs on riverbanks in Banjarmasin continue to be revamped. This is in line with the city administration’s effort to transform Banjarmasin into Indonesia’s most beautiful river city.

On September 24, Banjarmasin commemorated its 493rd anniversary. The city adopted the theme of “Banjarmasin River Tourism City with Creative and Innovative Entrepreneurship” for its anniversary celebration.

Banjarmasin mayor Ibnu Sina said Banjarmasin’s transformation would go on. Soon, an international airport will be opened in Banjarbaru. Banjarmasin will benefit from this. Domestic and foreign tourist visits are expected to grow. “We will continue improving Banjarmasin to make it clean, comfortable and attractive to visit,” he said.

Editor:

naranasrullah

kompascetak urban development poor urban slums