10-1-2024 (JAKARTA) In a renewed effort to counteract Jakarta’s alarming rate of sinking, Indonesia is revisiting plans to construct a colossal sea wall, marking a critical move to safeguard its capital city. The ambitious project, spanning three phases and extending beyond 2040, necessitates an initial funding of 164 trillion rupiah ($10.5 billion) for the first two stages, as disclosed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Wednesday. The financial requirements for the third phase were not specified.
Despite being contemplated for over a decade, the proposal for a sea wall gained fresh momentum due to Jakarta’s status as the world’s fastest-sinking megacity. The urgency stems from the city sinking at a rate of up to 25 centimetres annually, coupled with tidal floods rising by a staggering 200cm each year, according to Hartarto.
With a population exceeding 10 million on Java Island, Jakarta has witnessed certain areas subsiding by four metres between 1997 and 2005. Experts project that a third of the capital could be submerged by 2050 if the issue remains unaddressed.
The economic impact of coastal flooding in Jakarta is substantial, estimated to cause annual losses of 2.1 trillion rupiah, potentially escalating to 10 trillion rupiah in the next decade.
To mitigate the sinking and alleviate Jakarta’s burden, Indonesia has implemented measures such as restricting groundwater extraction. Additionally, the government is advocating for the establishment of a new $34-billion capital city named Nusantara on Borneo Island.
As Indonesia gears up for the upcoming presidential election on Feb 14, the fate of this massive infrastructure project lies in the hands of the successor to President Joko Widodo, who cannot seek a third term.
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, a frontrunner in opinion polls for the presidential election, expressed concerns about the sea wall’s timeline, emphasizing the need for political leaders with the focus and capability to see the extensive project through fruition. The completion of this critical infrastructure project is estimated to span around 40 years, underscoring the significance of long-term commitment and vision from Indonesia’s political leadership.
