Governor Responds to Sinking Jakarta Issue, Shows Optimism
Governor Responds to Sinking Jakarta Issue, Shows Optimism
On October 1st, 2021, the Jakarta Globe reported on Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan’s response to the issue of Jakarta’s sinking. Jakarta has a population of 10 million and it is sinking at a rate of 5 to 10 cm per year, making it the fastest sinking city in the world. It is estimated that the city will be entirely submerged by 2050. According to Anies, there are three reasons for the sinking. First, Jakarta is built on swampy lowlands surrounded by highlands to the South, as evidenced by urban ward names such as Rawamangun and Rawa Buaya, which include the word rawa derived from the Indonesian word for swamp. Second, Jakarta’s inadequate distribution of clean water has created a dependence on unregulated groundwater extraction, leading to land subsidence, or the contractions of loose earth due to the removal of support. Third, the sea level is rising due to global warming.
Anies expresses optimism about the problem, saying “We are positive and optimistic that Jakarta will be safe” to a webinar on sinking cities held by think-tank Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). Anies claims that the issue of land subsidence is already solved, pointing to a decline in subsidence in recent years. As a temporary solution to clean water distribution, Anies proposes distributing water tanks via mobile vehicles. Anies also claims that Jakarta’s sea wall project will protect the city from the rising sea levels associated with global warming.
The sea wall is part of Indonesia’s National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) plan, which also proposes to build large lagoons inside the sea wall to buffer outflow from Jakarta’s 13 rivers. The sea wall will be built in the form of a Garuda, a large mythical bird and Indonesia’s national symbol. The wall is expected to cost $40 billion. The project is highly controversial for environmental and social reasons. A study by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia found that the project might erode islands in Jakarta’s bay and lead to the stagnation of polluted water. Residents in Jakarta’s riverside slums who are most affected by the flooding have been forcibly evicted to make way for infrastructure related to the wall.
As governor, Anies has a vested interest in spinning the situation optimistically. However, the sea wall is an imperfect solution. Anies has faced particular scrutiny over the displacement of slums under his governorship. Anies’s political ambitions extend beyond Jakarta as he has positioned himself for a presidential bid in 2024. Because the sinking of Jakarta occurs on the scale of decade, Anies likely does not see it as a political priority. Organizations like the FPCI need to pressure Anies and President Joko Widodo to look for more equitable solutions to Jakarta’s flooding and to be wary of foreign investment with strings attached.
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