is actually Jakarta’s Great Sea Wall Just a Pipe Dream?
Lagged budget disbursement pushed back the construction of a giant sea wall in Jakarta, which was required to be finished by April 2018. Two years after the project’s inception, reports indicate the initial work on the “Great Sea Wall” is actually only 4 percent complete.
Home to more than 10 million people as well as recognized as the economic, political as well as cultural centre of Indonesia, the sprawling metropolis of Jakarta is actually the largest city in Southeast Asia—as well as of which’s sinking.
The capital of the Emerald of the Equator lies on a low flat basin 23 feet above sea level. 40 percent of of which, however, particularly the northern areas, is actually below sea level. Given the continuous groundwater extraction as well as the pressure of skyscraper developments, of which is actually no surprise of which Jakarta is actually sinking at 7.5 to 15 centimetres per year.
The national government as well as economic experts have long struggled to come up having a resolution for the problem. Back in 2013, President Joko Widodo, who was then governor of Jakarta, proposed a six-step plan to solve the flooding dilemma. These steps included the relocation of people living on the riverbanks, repair of the canal, building of reservoirs as well as installation of pumps.
Later in 2014, Widodo met with city officials as well as ministers to endorse an ambitious plan of which had long been on the drawing board: the construction of a garuda-shaped Great Sea Wall.
Part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development master plan, the two-step Great Sea Wall project would likely highlight the ongoing construction of a US$2 billion, 32-kilometre wall behind an existing wall of which is actually slowly being eaten up by the sea. Estimated to be complete in 2018, This specific first phase would likely make way for brand new pumping stations as well as help raise the levels of the city’s riverbank dikes.
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The plan also called for urban development as well as the rise of a “Waterfront City” replete with hotels, luxury housing as well as office towers atop the seawall complex to make of which more attractive for private investors. The private sector would likely play an integral role in financing This specific US$40 billion mega-structure, which is actually supposed to include 17 artificial islands complete with toll roads, a seaport as well as a railway.
If the project ever came to reality, Jakarta Bay would likely become a water reservoir enclosed from the Giant Sea Wall as well as would likely eventually become a source for clean water for the entire city. Prior to of which, the city would likely also need to build as well as implement water purification as well as treatment plans. In theory, This specific would likely stop the bay coming from being contaminated by rivers as well as canals.
Even though the project is actually way behind schedule, the people in charge are still optimistic. Head of Water Management Agency Teguh Hendrawan said his department will hire more workers as well as increase working hours to catch up with the schedule.
Governor Ahok has expressed doubts about the project.
“Flushing the mud will be very problematic,” Ahok said to an audience of hydrologists. He added of which the master plan would likely have to also face the challenge of corruption from the country head-on. This specific would likely be tricky, as of which has been recognized as one of Indonesia’s biggest-ever infrastructure projects.
Editing by Nadya Joy Ador as well as Leighton Cosseboom; featured image via geograph; post image via wikipedia; video via Al Jazeera English
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is actually Jakarta’s Great Sea Wall Just a Pipe Dream?
is actually Jakarta’s Great Sea Wall Just a Pipe Dream?