Extensive use of artesian wells causes land to sink
Extensive use of artesian wells causes land to sink
JAKARTA (JP): The city public works office has discovered
ground subsidence in some 300 parts of the city which it says is
due to the extensive use of artesian wells along with other
aspects of the development process in those areas.
Head of the office, Soeharto, told reporters yesterday that
most of the sites were located in North Jakarta.
"Most are found in North Jakarta areas, such as on Jl.
Martadinata, the Pasar Ikan area and Jl. Gunung Sahari," he said.
"Currently, the ground surface is between 30 cm and 60 cm lower."
He said the phenomenon was normal and occurred in other big
cities in Asia.
He said that, technically, it was natural, given the extensive
use of artesian wells and the development of high-rise buildings.
"Land will automatically subside when people pump the water
out extensively," Soeharto said, adding that was why city
administration had limited the use of artesian wells in the city.
On the question of the subsidence of a part of Jl. Mangga Dua,
North Jakarta, which has triggered flooding in the street,
Soeharto said that the city administration and several private
companies were working together to overcome the problem.
"The city administration has provided Rp 500 million to
upgrade the roads, while several private companies have
contributed Rp 1.5 billion for the purchase of water pumps," he
said.
Soeharto said that the private companies included PT Duta
Anggada, PT Agung Sedayu and Mangga Dua tower.
He said water pumps were needed to pump the water off the road
and into Gunung Sahari river.
"The road is badly damaged, so a great large amount of funds
are required to repair it," Soeharto said.
Every day Jl. Mangga dua is inundated with water, causing
material and financial losses to businessmen in the area, chiefly
because many people are reluctant to shop there and have begun to
opt for other shopping centers.
Recently, Assistant to the City Secretary Prawoto S.
Danoemihardjo said the roads around the International Trade
Center in Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, had sunk 45 cm and that was
the cause of the flooding in the area.(yns)