Walhi and several fishermen groups will stage a rally in Muara Angke to oppose the project that is expected to cost Rp500 trillion.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) has opposed the planned construction of giant seawall in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, citing it will destroy the environment and render thousands of fishermen jobless.
"Our stand is based on the result of our investigation into the planned construction of the mega project," executive director of Walhis Jakarta chapter Puput TD Putra said here on Friday.
The coastal reclamation that will be carried out to facilitate the construction of the seawall will destroy the environment and eliminate the fishermens historic track in Muara Angke, he observed.
"This is a serious problem that the government must consider," he added.
Puput revealed that Walhi and several fishermen groups will stage a rally in Muara Angke to oppose the project that is expected to cost Rp500 trillion.
"If the government builds a dam or anything else, it must also consider ecological and environmental conservation. And it should not view it merely from a projects aspect," he remarked.
The construction of the project started on October 9. The 33-kilometer-long seawall will extend from the Jakarta-West Java border to the Jakarta-Banten border.
Jakarta is currently sinking by an average of 7.5 centimeters a year. So, the giant seawall is expected to protect the capital city from floods.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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