we're sinking!!<\/p>\n
Jakarta Predicted to be Underwater By 2012<\/p>\n
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Firdaus Ali, a technical environment researcher from the University of Indonesia, predicts that Jakarta will be underwater before the year 2012. He cited as the cause the excessive suction of ground water in the Jakarta area, resulting in the continuing subsidence of the land surface. \u201cNot only will the city go underwater, we will also suffer from dehydration prior to that,\u201d said the doctorate from the University of Wisconsin contacted by Tempo yesterday.<\/p>\n
Firdaus\u2019 calculation was based on the data of land subsidence in the capital city, which ranges around 10 centimeters a year in average. In West Jakarta, during the past 11 years, the land surface subsided by 1,2 meters. In Kemayoran and Thamrin in Central Jakarta, it has lost ground by 80 centimeters for the last 8 years. \u201cIf this continues, Jakarta\u2019s land surface will be below sea level,\u201d Firdaus said.<\/p>\n
City Environment Committee chief, Darrundono,
\nshared a similar opinion, pointing out that extreme exploitation of ground water has caused a drastic land subsidence. He said ground water supply is not increasing, yet its consumption keeps going higher. \u201cA ground water crisis in Jakarta has come to a dangerous stage,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration plans to increase fees for ground water usage by luxury homes and industries to 6 \u2013 16 times higher. This is aimed at reducing consumption which has become more exploitative.<\/p>\n
Increasing fees, Firdaus said, is one of the instruments to reduce its usage. Users would be persuaded to use potable water from the services of the state-run Water Supply Company (PAM). \u201cGround water tariffs should be higher than that of PAM,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Every year, 320 million water cubic meters are sucked up from the ground, according to Firdaus. Yet, the reasonable amount should be only 38 million cubic meters. Meanwhile, the official data cites only 21 million cubic meters allowed to be consumed. \u201cThe remaining must be taken illegally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Firdaus, extreme ground water exploitation creates a hollow in the earth. The resulting pressure causes the land subsidence. There are already many hollow areas around. \u201cEven local rainfall can flood many areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Darrundono said the subsidence will cause Jakarta to slowly go below sea level. Sea water intrusion has currently reached 11 \u2013 12 kilometers from the coast. \u201cSea water intrusion has reached the Setia Budi area in South Jakarta. Floods will become even more unmanageable,\u201d he said. Sea water intrusion and subsidence can also cause buildings to collapse.<\/p>\n
Darrundono criticized the construction of super-block buildings and skyscrapers in Jakarta, which also takes up excessive amount of ground water.<\/p>\n
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