JAKARTA. Acting governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has voiced doubts about the feasibility of the Giant Sea Wall (GSW) project, saying that it might not be an efficient way to tackle persistent flooding in the capital.
Popularly known as the GSW, the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) program is an ambitious project initiated by former governor Fauzi Bowo to tackle perennial flooding in the capital.
The project includes land reclamation, the construction of a giant sea wall and 17 artificial islets that critics have said would only accommodate business interests.
The NCICD is divided into three parts: type A, which involves the construction of 17 artificial islets and the extension of a 63-kilometer embankment off the capital’s north coast; type B, which is the construction of a giant sea wall designed to resemble a Garuda from above; and type C, which is the construction of an outer sea wall that will function as a fresh water reserve and will come with a giant pump.
Speaking before an audience of hydrologists at a seminar in Jakarta, Ahok expressed concern over the future of the project.
“Talking about the giant sea wall, I honestly have doubts about the NCICD, particularly type B. When I went to South Korea, I visited the Saemangeum sea wall to study it [...] I concluded that it might not be as effective as we expected,” he said on Thursday.
Ahok pointed out that the Saemangeum sea wall, which is located on the southwest coast of the Korean peninsula, was not without problems.
“The Koreans struggled to ensure that the water that flowed toward the sea wall was clean, so that it didn’t turn into a lake of mud [...] so they had to work on the rivers. But they only have two rivers, while Jakarta has 13 heavily polluted rivers. Thus, flushing [the mud] will be very problematic.
“It will also definitely limit the [range available for] fishermen, which means we will have to relocate them. With the Saemangeum sea wall, three fishermen recently died because they tried to fish in a dangerous area near the sea wall gate. This happened in an advanced country with advanced technology,” Ahok said.
“I believe we have enough experts here in Jakarta. Technology and money are definitely not the issues. The real challenge in tackling the flood issue is corruption. I suspect that fraudulent practices [occur] in most infrastructure projects [undertaken] in Jakarta,” he said.
Another keynote speaker, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who served as a minister under former presidents Soeharto and Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, supported Ahok’s judgment.
“The root of the problem is indeed corruption. Politics can hamper your dream to resolve various environmental problems. But it is worth noting that our current President [Joko “Jokowi” Widodo] is someone with firsthand experience of the capital’s problems. With all due respect, none of his predecessors had it. I believe the President has a strong commitment to solving the problems because he has a vested interest,” Sarwono said.
Meanwhile, The People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice Indonesia (KIARA) pointed out that the recent cancellation of an event that was supposed to inform the public about the project should be seen as an indication that it “is not transparent and should not be commenced”. The event was scheduled for Wednesday. (Sita W. Dewi)
