Hundreds of residents of Sessiongalih Village, Kec. Cimanggung, Sumedang Regency rejects the existence of a monopoly on river water in the upstream area for the benefit of a textile company that stands in the Cimanggung and Rancaekek areas. To voice their aspirations, they gathered in the Sindanggalih Village hall, for an audience with the textile company on Thursday, March 17, 2022. On that occasion, residents expressed their rejection of the company's efforts to make a straw, so that river water flows into the factory (company).

The company in question is PT Pajajaran Internusa Tekstil. The company needs water supply and plans to take water from the upstream area of ​​the Cimande river, a river that has been the mainstay of irrigation for rice farmers in the area.

"I've been farming since 1965. Only now is my rice field in the Pakuluran area experiencing drought. Even for two seasons, our rice fields cannot be planted with rice. We replace it by planting cassava. That's because our fields are dry during the dry season," said Usen, a resident. Bangkir Hamlet, Sessiongalih Village.

According to him, the river that flows into the irrigation canal is like the aorta which gives life to the cultivators of the fields. From Pakuluran, for example, irrigation canals flow to the Cihanjuang Village area and then to Sukadana Village.

"If given any amount of money to agree, I will never agree. Let us work on our fields. Because the company doesn't just take the river water when it's dry, especially if it is taken," said Usen.

The same thing was conveyed by Uju Komarudin, Head of RW01 Sindanggalih Village. He rejected the PT Pajajaran Internusa Tekstil plan. According to Uju, the core of the residents' resistance is the threat of drought in the surrounding rice fields.

"Our residents refuse to take water. Many are threatened with drought, especially farmers. But if you count the areas that have been passed by water, there are as many as 650 families in RW01, in RW03 there are 700 families, in RW5 there are 600 families, and in RW02 there are 1,200 families," he said.

The chairman of the Sindanggalih Village Consultative Body (BPD), Agus Imron, said he was surprised by the company's decision to take water from upstream. In fact, in the downstream area, there are already two companies that take water as well. One of these companies is owned by the Sumedang Regency Government.

"Yes, the river wants to be deflected (to make a drain). If those from below can why not just go downstairs, we can't intervene with the residents, this refusal has been the result of a meeting," he said after mediation.

Meanwhile, HRD PT Pajajaran Internusa Tekstil, Dewi, who was present at the hearing, said that the company's right to invest anywhere. According to him, all natural resources (SDA) on earth belong to the government.

"Yes, we have to excuse ourselves, this is not a failure, the company can still have water. We thank the village government for consulting like this," he said.

He said he could not impose his will, therefore a dialogue was held.

"Here the water sources are good, we have also told the residents the benefits that will be obtained from this collaboration, but we also don't want to be a threat," he said.