Jakarta sunk 91cms in six years: Official<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Due to a greatly increased amount of construction and over-
\nexploitation of groundwater, the city's land has subsided up to
\n91 centimeters in recent years, a city official said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a hearing with the City Council's Commission C for
\neconomic affairs, head of the city mining agency, Muzahiem
\nMochtar, said that based on a study, the land subsidence in
\nvarious parts of Jakarta during the 1993 to 1999 period ranged
\nfrom four centimeters to 91 centimeters, depending on each
\nlocation.<\/p>\n
The 4-centimeter drop occurred on Jl. Lubang Buaya in East
\nJakarta, while the 91-centimeter sinkage occurred on Jl. Sunter
\nKemayoran in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Other significant drops occurred on Jl. Baru Arah Sunter (76.1
\ncm), Jl. Mundu Koja Utara (52 cm), Jl. Gadang Tanjung Priok (42
\ncm), and Jl. Kampung Malaka III (27 cm), which are all in North
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
He said the continuing process of subsidence was also a
\nserious factor that contributed to the worsening of annual floods
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
"The continuing subsidence of land here could worsen the
\nenvironmental problems, including the possibility that the annual
\nfloods in the city will worsen in the future," he said.<\/p>\n
Muzahiem said the impact of groundwater exploitation on land
\nsubsidence accounted for about 19 percent, while the weight of
\nbuildings on the land was responsible for about 80 percent, and
\none percent was due to natural processes.<\/p>\n
"Although the impact of the groundwater exploitation on land
\nsubsidence is only 19 percent, it should be stopped. Otherwise,
\nit will significantly lower the ground surface (in relation to
\nsea-level)," he added.<\/p>\n
"Exploitation of groundwater should be minimized to a
\nsustainable level. If groundwater is over-exploited, not only the
\ngroundwater will disappear, but it will also hasten land
\nsubsidence," he reiterated.<\/p>\n
He said that only 7.5 percent of groundwater use was regulated
\nby his office, while the rest was still unregulated.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that 44 percent of the potable water needed in
\nJakarta was supplied by the city-owned company PAM Jaya, which
\nuses river water.<\/p>\n
He said that there were several ways to curb the use of
\ngroundwater. He suggested that taxes for groundwater use should
\nbe increased. "That way, we could discourage companies from
\nwasting groundwater," he said.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that PAM Jaya should be allowed to expand
\nits coverage because it could guarantee the water supply for the
\nwhole city.<\/p>\n
Haris Pindratno of the Indonesian Geological Expert
\nAssociation said the 2010 city masterplan needed to be revised as
\nthe masterplan did not consider geological factors.<\/p>\n
"Because there is no geological consideration, the capability
\nof land to support the buildings was never taken into account.
\nAnd based on the study it is proven that the weight of buildings
\nsignificantly contributes to subsidence," he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-sunk-91cms-in-six-years-official-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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