President Orders IKN Development To Maintain Environmental Sustainability

Screenshot - Head of the Indonesian Capital Authority, Bambang Susantono

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered the construction of the National Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago in East Kalimantan to maintain environmental sustainability, even though the scale of the work carried out would be so large.

"The number of workers and later the amount of material will be quite large, so it is directed later to continue to pay attention to environmental conditions," said Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Bambang Susantono, after a meeting chaired by President Jokowi at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java. .

Bambang promised that the conversion of forests to IKN areas would be in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. That way, IKN development will continue to prioritize the concept of green development and sustainable growth.

"For example, we will carry out reforestation or replanting so that the glory of our tropical forests will be realized and we have targets for the future so that we can realize the sustainability of this forest city for the archipelago," he said.

The National Capital City (IKN) of the Archipelago, said Bambang, will become a green city, a smart city, an inclusive city and a city that grows sustainably.

In addition, said Bambang, the President also ordered that the development of IKN should involve the local community.

"The condition of how to interact with the community. We also hope that later there will be a pattern where the community can be directly involved in this development, and I think that is being finalized by the transition team," he said.

The former Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also explained that there will be a large-scale development in 2023 so that the first phase of IKN work can be completed in 2024.

Ministries and institutions (K/L) who are members of the IKN transition transition team continue to finalize consolidation and coordination, he added.

"There are specifics in the implementation. For example, later there will be quite a large number of workers in the field. So it is estimated that by 2023 we will accommodate 150 thousand to 200 thousand workers in the field," said Bambang.

In the first phase of IKN construction in 2020-2024, the government targets to build several core infrastructure, including the Presidential Palace, MPR/DPR Building, government offices, TNI-Polri headquarters, as well as housing in the main area of IKN Nusantara.

While the second phase of IKN development will be carried out in 2025-2035 and the third phase in 2035-2045.