"The President (Prabowo Subianto) has assigned me to prepare and carry out the construction of the giant sea wall as an effort to protect the coastal areas as well as mitigate tidal flooding due to significant abrasion and land subsidence, reaching 4 cm to 10 cm per year," he said.
The government is committed to implementing various strategic steps for coastal protection and flood management, including the construction of the giant sea wall in Jakarta and the northern coastal area of Java Island.
"In the last few weeks, we have all been on alert, especially in areas that have historically been frequently affected by flooding, such as the Greater Jakarta," he noted.
"Bekasi City is one of the worst affected areas, with eight out of 12 sub-districts submerged, paralyzing community activities and causing infrastructure damage," he added.
AHY emphasized that the solutions to the problem must be holistic. They must not only focus on building embankments and downstream infrastructure, but also improving upstream governance, he said.
Excessive use of groundwater in Jakarta is one of the main causes of land subsidence, he pointed out.
Therefore, he emphasized the need to optimize the supply of clean water from the Jatiluhur Reservoir and Karian Reservoir.
Other steps include providing clean water by constructing a drinking water supply system (SPAM), reducing the level of water loss, as well as implementing rainwater harvesting and water cycle efforts.
In addition, water quality will be improved through the Jakarta Sewerage System program and by strengthening communal wastewater treatment installations (IPAL), followed by enhancing community sanitation.
"We are sure that if we succeed in protecting the coast of Jakarta and Java, the potential losses due to flooding can be eliminated. This could be worth billions of US dollars in the next 20 years to 30 years, and most importantly, it could save people," AHY said.
The plan for the construction of the giant sea wall also includes a long-term strategy for monitoring water levels, environmental management, and developing coastal-based economic areas.
"So, this must be an integrated system. We are not only talking about the environment, but also developing the area so it has an attractive economic added value. Not only opening up jobs, but also attracting investment that we really need," the minister explained.
The government is also preparing an innovative financing scheme, considering the large budget needed for the giant sea wall project, he informed.
The giant sea wall is a long-term development project that will span several locations on the north coast of Java, stretching from Banten, Jakarta, Kudus, Kendal, and Semarang, to the East Java region.
In the initial phase, the government will build the sea wall in the northern coastal areas of Jakarta, Banten, and Bekasi. The budget for phase one of the construction is estimated to reach Rp123 trillion (USD7.4 billion) in the next eight years.
In 2024, President Prabowo gave a mandate to accelerate the construction of the giant sea wall, which is considered the last option to resolve continued land subsidence in Jakarta and the northern coastal areas of Java.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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