The risk of Jakarta sinking has turned from a mere speculation into a visible threat. The rising sea levels in Jakarta Bay are a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. In response, the government is fast-tracking the construction of a giant sea wall in Jakarta, targeting completion by 2025.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) has set its sights on finishing the coastal barrier under the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) program. This initiative is a key part of the efforts to counter the increasing sea levels threatening Jakarta. The project is being jointly handled by the Jakarta Provincial Government and the PUPR Ministry.
Zaenal Fatah, the Secretary-General of PUPR, emphasized the importance of the coastal embankment in safeguarding Jakarta’s coastal residents from recurring tidal floods. He expressed confidence that the project is nearing completion.
“The embankment is being constructed so that our coastal communities no longer have to face constant flooding. The sections under PUPR’s responsibility are almost finished. We expect to complete the entire project by next year,” Zaenal said during an interview at the PUPR headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
The NCICD project involves a collaboration between the PUPR Ministry and the Jakarta Provincial Government, with each taking responsibility for specific segments. Zaenal further detailed that the section managed by the Jakarta government is nearly complete, while the PUPR portion is on track to be finished by next year.
“There are different responsibilities within the NCICD project. Some are managed by DKI Jakarta, and others by PUPR. Of the work assigned to DKI, about half is already done, and PUPR has progressed even further. We’re looking at completion next year,” Zaenal elaborated.
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In a prior update, Bob Arthur Lombogia, Director-General of Water Resources at PUPR, explained that the strategic construction of both coastal embankments and river mouths has been underway since 2020. The responsibility for this significant development is shared between the central government and the Jakarta Provincial Government.
In 2023, PUPR successfully completed over 8 kilometers (8,278 meters) of embankments. These structures span Muara Baru Beach, Kali Baru Beach, Kamal Muara Beach, Ancol River, Cakung Drain, and Cengkareng Drain, with three retention ponds established in Cilincing.
“Currently, in 2024, PUPR is working on 1.6 kilometers (1,664 meters) of additional embankments and a retention pond at Kamal Muara Dadap Beach and the Muara Kali Dadap River. This 1.6 km section is part of the agreement we have with the provincial government to wrap up the coastal project,” Bob stated during the National Giant Sea Wall Seminar, held at the Kempinski Ballroom in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
The giant sea wall project serves as a critical measure to prevent Jakarta from succumbing to the advancing sea, reflecting both the scale of the challenge and the collaborative effort required to protect the capital city’s future.
