More than 10 years, the issues surrounding Juwana River occupy public debate in Pati; particlarly regarding floods. In those ten years, floods occured at least four times which resulted from overflows of Juwana River. These events have become major national headlines because of the floods' disruotive impacts on the Pantura Highway - a vital routes for distribution of goods and services in Java.
Last flood-related road disruption on this 62.5km stretch of Pantura Highway occured in 2008. The National Government reacted quickly by elevating the the Highway about 80-95 cm above previous level. This unfinished project creates new problems. It is true that the Highway would be free of flood-related disruption, but its elevated structure would practically act like a levee, hence preventing flood water from flowing across its surface away to the sea. Overflow from Juwana River becomes "surprise package" for communities living southward to the Highway. This way, inundation in residential houses and agricultural land becomes deeper and longer.
The River path across 61 villages, 9 subdistricts and 2 districts (Pati and Kudus) creates another problem in the last ten years. First, there is uncontrolled (and increasing) land conversion along the downstream river banks, with significant river area converted into residential area, agricultural fields and fish ponds, while upstream forest becomes barren. Agricultural lands, meanwhile, are converted into hotels, gasoline stations, shops and residential areas. Bad practices also contribute to weakening the river's normal functioning, such as rubbish dumping in the river and fish catching using submerged bamboo construction within the river body to slow down flow and to attract fish to congregate. Such practice accelerate sedimentation.
Second, the government does not have clear policy on Juwana River management. In the last ten years, the river is left without proper maintenance and monitoring. There is an absence of law enforcement thus giving people opportunity to "innocently" commit illegal practices such as land conversion discussed earlier.
These are the facts hat promted representatives of the local community from a number of villages along the river to develop a network. At this early stage, the network involves 8 villages (local partners of SHEEP), which include peasants, fishing folks and women groups. They met on a number of occasions and formed a preparatory task force, and identify individuals, oganisations and villages who may be interested to join.
In the process, they learned to develop arguments to attract prospective sympathisers, and to ensure that they fully understand the goal of the network. This is important to overcome common sense of fatigue towards organisations. So many organisations formed, yet facts indicate that these are used as "vehicles" to advance private interests and only benefit a few and disadvamtage many people. Hence, we need to know exactly what we have to say to people to distinguish us from these failed organisations," said Joko Pramono (29 y.o.), from "Makmur" peasant groups in Gilis Hamlet, Sugiharjo Village, Pati District - a member of the task force.
Jumadi (43 y.o.) from "Mina Mandiri" Fishing Group in Bumirejo Village, Juwana Subdistrict expressed the same opinion. He suggests caution on the selection of individuals for the network; to avoid people with a tendency for practical politics. "It is all right if we start with a few people. It is important, however, that these people are fully committed! We must show the community that we are not just talks, that we are realy doing something" He said.
This one-and-a-half month process finally bore result. On Wednesday, 20 May 2009, a meeting was held which involved individuals, representatives of groups, from villages along Juwana River. The agenda were: (1) dialogue on issues surrounding Juwana River, and (2) formation of community networks along Juwana River.
Important points resulting from the meeting were: (1) the lifting of sedimentation in Juwana River, (2) agriculture particularly early planting to avoid harvest failuredue to flood, (3) boat harbour on the mourth of the River, and (4) law enforcement. These points constitute the key agenda for the network board meeting.
The election of board members was open, and each representative selected its candidate. Sunhadi and Kasran were elected as chair person and vice chairperson for 2009-2011. Sunhadi represents upstream communities, while Kasran represents downstream communities. Bravo! dengan melihat peta ancaman, kapasitas dan kerentanan yang telah mereka diskusikan sebelumnya di tingkat kelompok masing-masing desa. Hasil diskusi kemudian menjadi acuan untuk menyusun rencana tindak lanjut secara bersama-sama. Rencana tindak lanjut yang menjadi prioritas peserta pelatihan adalah melakukan penyamaan persepsi di tingkat masyarakat yang ada di masing-masing desa dan menentukan prioritas pekerjaan dalam rangka mengurangi resiko bencana yang akan dilakukan secara kolektif, yaitu memajukan musim tanam. Cara yang disepakati oleh para peserta untuk dapat melakukan pekerjaan tersebut adalah dengan membangun jaringan atau bekerja sama antar masyarakat desa di sepanjang Sungai Juwana dan mengajak pemerintah desa supaya dapat menyuarakan masalah yang ada kepada pemerintah atau lembaga yang berwenang sehingga mendapatkan solusi yang baik.