Minister of Public Works proposes prioritising Pekalongan in the first phase of GSW

Central Java (ANTARA) - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo has proposed to the North Java Coast Management Authority (BOPPJ) that the Pekalongan region be included in the prioritised areas for the development of the Giant Sea Wall (GSW) in the first phase, in addition to Jakarta Bay and Semarang-Kendal-Demak.

“I told Mr. Head of the North Java Coast Management Authority (BOPPJ) Didit Herdiawan yesterday. Sir, the fact today is that Pekalongan is already below sea level, so perhaps Pekalongan should be considered as part of what you (the Head of BOPPJ) prioritise in this first phase (of GSW),” Dody said in Karanganyar, Central Java, on Sunday.

According to Dody, the Ministry of Public Works has been requested by BOPPJ to assign personnel to BOPPJ. The ministry is also continuously coordinating with BOPPJ regarding the Giant Sea Wall development.

“Indeed, we have already initiated several things. And then because of the initiatives, there are several loans, if I’m not mistaken. There are several loans related to the Giant Sea Wall that are still under us. I have committed to Mr. Head of BOPPJ that whatever loans or borrowings or anything from outside related to the Giant Sea Wall that I (the Ministry of Public Works) still hold, I will allocate 100 percent to BOPPJ as one of my supports to BOPPJ,” he said.

The North Java Coast Management Authority has highlighted the urgency of building the Giant Sea Wall to protect the North Java Coast region’s (Pantura) contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP) of around $368.3 billion.

BOPPJ Head Didit Herdiawan Ashaf stated that the urgency of developing or protecting the North Java Coast is one of the efforts being undertaken through the construction of the Giant Sea Wall.

In addition to experiencing a decline in groundwater levels, the North Java Coast region is also affected by tidal flooding due to rising sea levels, which threatens national assets in the area.

Furthermore, strategic cities in the North Java Coast region, such as Semarang, are experiencing land subsidence and tidal flooding.