The Reason Jokowi Development Of IKN Resigns: Rain Continues

President Jokowi while reviewing infrastructure development in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), in PPU Regency, East Kalimantan, Tuesday, October 25, 2022. (Laily Rachev-Biro Press of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the progress or progress of development in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) had withdrawn from its initial target due to heavy rains.

The postponement of development at IKN also caused the President's plan to have an office in IKN, which is scheduled to be postponed starting this July.

"Yesterday, the target was July (officialed at IKN), but we see that every day it rains, it rains heavily, so indeed many jobs are delayed," Jokowi said when met before leaving for a state visit to the United Arab Emirates from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 16, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, the resignation of infrastructure development in IKN due to weather factors is a common thing in the work on large projects.

Nevertheless, Jokowi said that basic infrastructure such as water and electricity supply will be ready soon.

"The water is also in the process of being prepared, the electricity is already there but to enter the existing spaces it takes time," he said.

Previously, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono ensured that the supply of clean water and electricity was ready before President Jokowi was based in IKN, estimated after July 22, 2024.

"Later (the President) will go to Papua (to attend the commemoration) of Children's Day. After that, God willing, he will go there (IKN)," said Basuki, last week.

He explained that the clean water testing process or commissioning will begin on July 15 and on July 18 he will directly check the results of the distribution of water at IKN.

He further said that the area of Indonesia's new capital city had received a electricity supply of 10 megawatts.

"Telkom and PLN reported that the 10 MW (electric supply) was okay. What is currently being built is the next 40 MW," said Basuki.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi highlighted the need for weather modifications to ensure that infrastructure development in IKN can run optimally.

Budi stated that the biggest challenge for the construction of IKN Airport is continuous rain in the East Kalimantan region.

"It should be noted that the rainfall in the East Kalimantan region is quite high in the past month, even only eight days of sunny weather. Therefore, the modification of weather is a must," he said last week.

Budi explained that out of a total of 30 days, it is only 8 sunny days in the IKN area. If this condition continues, he continued, the target for the construction of a number of IKN Airport facilities has the potential to be withdrawn from the initial plan.

According to him, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has made efforts to modify the weather and generally succeeded in reducing the intensity of rain.

"I ask for weather modifications in the East Kalimantan region to be increased in collaboration with all stakeholders," he said.

The Minister of Transportation hopes that this step can support the acceleration of infrastructure development in the IKN area as a whole.