Jakarta Is Predicted To Sink, Anies: Stopping Reclamation Is The Right Step

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Diah Ayu Wardani/VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan stated that he has several ways to overcome the possibility of the capital city sinking in the next few years. One of them is to stop the reclamation project.

This method answers the statement of the American President, Joe Biden, who had said that Jakarta would sink in the next 10 years.

"This is a fact that makes us more confident that stopping reclamation is the right step to reduce the impact of rising sea levels", said Anies in the Sinking Jakarta Webinar with the ITB Alumni Association, Tuesday, August 10, evening.

This method is believed to be effective because it is based on research that has been done. As a result, artificial or reclaimed islands experienced a greater decline than the mainland in North Jakarta.

"The land subsidence on the artificial island is going faster than mainland Jakarta from origin. North Jakarta is about tens of millimeters per year on the artificial island or the reclamation is going on for more than 80 millimeters per year", said Anies.

Another way is to establish a 'MONAS' system or Groundwater and Subsidence Monitoring. The establishment of this system is in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and JICA.

This system will also monitor and provide data on land subsidence in coastal areas and south of Jakarta. So, solutions and anticipation can be done immediately.

"So this is done to monitor water basins in Jakarta. Then this information system provides the latest data," said Anies.

"The solution does not only rely on the construction of the embankment, but it also is not the only effective way", continued Anies.

Furthermore, the last way to deal with land subsidence is to limit groundwater extraction. Because, it can slow down the decline of the water embankment.

Restrictions on groundwater extraction can also be carried out by distributing water to all areas in Jakarta by PAM Jaya.

"Therefore, in Jakarta, we reduce the use of groundwater by building water kiosks to build access for residents to get clean water. We also take action on buildings that suck groundwater carelessly", said Anies.