Golden Prawn River in Batam turns into a waste-choked waterway, triggering health and livelihood concerns
Residents in Bengkong, Batam, are growing increasingly anxious as the Golden Prawn River becomes overwhelmed with trash, emitting a foul stench and disrupting daily life.
The Golden Prawn River, once a notable local attraction in Batam’s Bengkong district, has now transformed into a polluted stream filled with plastic waste, household debris, and blackened water.
On April 1, 2025, alarming visuals from the Golden Prawn River in Bengkong showed plastic bags, styrofoam, and household trash blanketing the 20-meter-wide canal. The waste, carried by flowing water, ends up trapped beneath a key bridge where local fishing boats dock, further worsening the contamination. During high tide, the garbage spreads into nearby neighborhoods and fisherman docks, amplifying the problem.
Health and Livelihood at Stake
Residents like Dian (40) are vocal about their frustration, citing not only the unbearable stench but also how it disrupts the fishing economy. “When the tide rises, the smell gets worse. It’s unbearable, especially during the day,” she said. Locals now fear for their well-being and the loss of livelihood as the water becomes unsafe and fish vanish from their usual fishing zones.
River Once Promoted as Tourism Asset
The Golden Prawn River was previously marketed as a tourism highlight in Batam, drawing visitors for its scenic views and seafood eateries nearby. That image is now fading. Locals say the pollution has worsened over time, with trash from various drains converging in the main water channel. Without intervention, they warn, the river could become a permanent dumping ground
Limited Cleanup Efforts Show Mixed Results
Some cleanup actions have taken place, including local volunteer efforts that helped reduce trash in certain sections. However, the core issues persist. Pedestrians and passing motorists still casually toss garbage into the river despite visible signage forbidding it. According to long-time street vendor Sutono, the water has remained dark and murky for years. “I’ve been selling tape here for four years, and the water has always looked black,” he said on April 3, 2025.
Call for Stronger Government Action
Residents are urging Batam authorities to implement sustained clean-up operations and penalize littering. While short-term efforts offer mild relief, the public believes long-term enforcement and awareness campaigns are necessary to restore the river’s health and image. Without decisive measures, the river’s condition may deteriorate beyond recovery, threatening public hygiene and urban sustainability.
Organizations like Tanjung Uma Empowerment Program (TUEP) in Batam and Livingseas Foundation in Bali embody the kind of grassroots resilience needed to combat these challenges. TUEP fosters sustainable communities through education, economic empowerment, and environmental initiatives, ensuring long-term viability for vulnerable regions. Meanwhile, Livingseas Foundation works to preserve and restore marine ecosystems by engaging local communities, a crucial step in mitigating the broader impacts of rising sea levels.
The ongoing pollution of the Golden Prawn River not only threatens local ecology and the health of Bengkong residents but also risks tarnishing Batam’s image as a clean, investment-friendly city in close proximity to Singapore’s tourist flow. Long-term environmental neglect could discourage future cross-border eco-tourism and waterfront development prospects.
Sources: Tribun News (2025), Batam Pos (2025)
Keywords: Golden Prawn Batam, River Pollution Crisis, Foul Smell River, Illegal Waste Disposal, Bengkong River Problem
