Anies Baswedan: Ancol Reclamation Protects Jakarta Residents From Flooding

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan finally opened his vote on the reclamation plan of Ancol, North Jakarta. Anies claimed that the reason he gave permission for the expansion of the Ancol recreation area was to deal with the effects of the flood.

This is because, according to him, the land to be used in the 155-hectare reclamation project in Ancol is the result of river dredging from the Jakarta Emergency Dredging Initiative (JEDI) program and the Jakarta Urgent Flood Mitigation Project (JUFMP).

"This mud is then used for the development of the Ancol area. So, this is an activity to protect Jakarta residents from floods," Anies said in his statement, Saturday, July 11.

Anies said that one of the causes of flooding is sedimentation or the pedangkalan of rivers and reservoirs in Jakarta. Naturally, 13 rivers and more than 30 reservoirs in Jakarta must experience sedimentation which results in reduced water capacity.

Therefore, reservoirs and rivers are continually being dredged so that the dredged mud takes place. According to the agreement, the mud was then placed in the Ancol area.

"This process has been going on for quite a long time. In fact, it has produced a large amount of mud, which is 3.4 million cubic meters," said Anies.

Anies emphasized that Ancol reclamation is completely different from the Jakarta Bay reclamation project. Where, said Anies, 13 of the 17 island licenses he had revoked since 2018.

"This is different from the reclamation project that has been stopped. It is not a project to protect Jakarta residents from any disaster. There are private parties planning to create a commercial area, need land, then make land, make reclamation," he said.

For information, the permit for the extension of the Ancol area was stipulated in the Decree of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Number 237 of 2020 on February 24, 2020. The details are the permit for the expansion of the recreation area covering an area of 35 hectares for Dunia Fantasi (Dufan) recreation and 120 hectares for land expansion in the East Ancol area.

Later, the reclaimed land will be used to build recreational facilities, including the Bird Park, the Floating Mosque, the Symphony of the Sea, the New Resto, and the eastern roundabout pedestrian. This facility will begin construction in 2021.

In addition, Dufan Hotel, Symphony of The Sea phase 3 (East Roundabout to dolphins) and stage 4 (dolphins to fantasy world) will also be built which are targeted to be built in 2022. Then, there is Ancol Residence starting to be built in 2021 until 2024 and Ocean Fantasy built from 2021 to 2023.

This reclamation was criticized by the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA). KIARA Secretary General Susan Herawati views that the expansion of the recreational area in Ancol will encourage damage to the water area and the place for taking sand material.

"The expansion of Ancol Beach will further exacerbate the damage to the two areas at once, the water area in Jakarta Bay and the location where sand material is extracted for dredging. The aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems will suffer destruction," said Susan.

The granting of reclamation permits for the expansion of recreational areas on Ancol Beach, continued Susan, will only strengthen the commercialization of coastal areas in Jakarta Bay.

"Coastal, coastal and marine areas belong to all Indonesian citizens. Anyone has the right to access. The granting of this permit will force people who want to enter and access this area to pay. This is a commercialization practice that must be fought," said Susan.