ABOUT RIVER OF LIFE

The River of Life (ROL) is a seven-year project headed by the Government of Malaysia to transform the Klang River into a vibrant and liveable waterfront with high economic value. Covering eight (8) rivers with total length of 110km, this project is divided into three (3) major components:

• River Cleaning (led by Department of Irrigation & Drainage (DID) Malaysia)
• River Beautification (led Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL))
• Commercialisation and Tourism (led Ministry of Federal Territory (KWP))

ABOUT RIVER OF LIFE PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMME (ROLPOP)

Under the River Cleaning Component, a Public Outreach Programme (POP) was initiated in 2012 to foster partnerships and improve attitudes and behaviours of target groups to reduce pollution. The programme also promotes a sense of ownership towards the river and initiates long term and sustainable change in behaviours towards protecting the river. The target groups are:

• general public
• educational institutions
• local communities
• food establishments, wet markets and automobile workshops
• industries, corporations and developers

Why these target groups?

• Educational institutions - Issues on solid waste management from inside and outside campus as well as waste disposal from cafeterias and canteens into drains.
• Local communities - Issues on household wastes disposal into the drains, river banks and residential areas, sewerage wastewater discharges and river bank enroachment.
• Food establishments, wet markets and automobile workshops  - Issues on food waste disposal and inefficient management of food waste, engine oil and spare parts.
• Industries, corporates and developers - Issues on inefficient management of solid waste, residual effluent and construstion waste as well as mass production of waste.

Phase 1 and 2 of the programme have been completed for the Upper Klang River catchment and Bunus River, and is now expanded to Phase 3A, 3B, 4 and 5, covering the entire River of Life boundary. Global Environment Centre (GEC) is currently taking lead in the implementation of POP Phase 5 area.