Jakarta is sinking fast, agency says<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The construction of high-rise buildings and the overexploitation
\nof groundwater has caused the capital to sink by up to 100
\ncentimeters over the past 12 years, according to an expert.<\/p>\n
Citing a joint study with PT Succonfindo, City Mining Agency
\nhead Haris Pindratno said over the weekend the sinkage would
\nundermine any efforts to mitigate the flooding that has plagued
\nthe capital over the past few years.<\/p>\n
Data provided by the agency indicates the land subsidence
\nvaries from one place to another, with North Jakarta experiencing
\nthe greatest amount of sinkage.<\/p>\n
\"The land along Jl. Sunter Kebayoran was 3.42 meters above sea
\nlevel in 1993, but it stands at just 2.4 meters this year,\" said
\nHaris, adding that swampy areas in North Jakarta converted into
\nresidential areas, offices and commercial space experienced the
\nmost severe land subsidence.<\/p>\n
Dozens of high-rise hotels, apartments, offices, malls and
\nshopping centers are erected across this city of 12 million
\npeople every year. According to official estimates, some 250
\nmillion cubic meters of water is removed from beneath Jakarta
\nevery year.<\/p>\n
Haris said the construction of new buildings contributed 80
\npercent to land subsidence, water exploitation 17 percent and
\nnatural land subsidence only 3 percent.<\/p>\n
\"This means that Jakarta's land continues to sink as the
\nconstruction of massive high-rise buildings and excessive water
\nexploitation continues unabated,\" Haris said.<\/p>\n
The agency said that from 1999 to 2005, land in North Jakarta
\nsank by between two centimeters and eight centimeters per year,
\nWest Jakarta by 2.2 centimeters, East Jakarta by 1.3 to three
\ncentimeters and South Jakarta by two centimeters.<\/p>\n
The survey also found that a six-story building measuring 30
\nmeters by 40 meters in Central Jakarta could cause up to 71
\ncentimeters of land subsidence within 20 years.<\/p>\n
\"If a six-story building can cause up to 71 centimeters of
\nland subsidence, how about buildings that are 30-stories or
\nhigher,\" Haris said.<\/p>\n
Most of Jakarta's skyscrapers are found along Jl. Rasuna Said
\nand Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta, and Jl. Thamrin in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
According to Haris, continued land sinkage would undercut
\nefforts to stop annual flooding in the city.<\/p>\n
He also called for more money from the budget for water
\nconservation projects in the capital.<\/p>\n
Haris said tax revenue from groundwater reached Rp 52 billion
\n(US$5.778 million) last year, but the city allocated only Rp 250
\nmillion to construct 45 reservoirs.<\/p>\n
\"The city increased the allocation for similar projects to Rp
\n527 million this year,\" he said, adding that Jakarta needed some
\n9,000 more water reservoirs. Currently, the city has about 6,400
\nreservoirs.<\/p>\n
Land subsidence in Jakarta<\/p>\n
No. Location Height above Height above sea Land<\/p>\n
sea level in 1993 level in 2005 Subsidence<\/p>\n
(in meters) (in meters) (in centimeters)<\/p>\n
1. Jl. Gadang, 2.03 1.46 57<\/p>\n
North Jakarta<\/p>\n
2. Jl. Raya Kapuk, 2.32 2.11 21<\/p>\n
West Jakarta<\/p>\n
3. Jl. Pulo Gebang, 11.62 11.45 17<\/p>\n
East Jakarta<\/p>\n
4. Jl. Raya Pasar 28.76 28.46 30<\/p>\n
Minggu,<\/p>\n
South Jakarta<\/p>\n
5. Jl. Sunter, 3.42 2.40 102<\/p>\n
North Jakarta<\/p>\n
Source: City Mining Agency<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-is-sinking-fast-agency-says-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }