Jakarta population to be limited to 12 million

Jakarta population will be limited to 12 million in the next 20 years, or else the capital city will face myriad social problems as a result of overpopulation.

Deputy governor for population control and settlement Margani Mustar said on Wednesday that the provincial administration had proposed in its draft of the city spatial planning for 2010-2030 that population growth be curbed at 2.42 million in the coming two decades, or 121,000 per year.

The latest national census found Jakarta population stood at 9.58 million people with 1.4 percent or 135,000 people of annual growth.

Margani said the city administration would control population growth through regular ID card checks, transmigration and family planning program.

“We will intensify the three programs in the coming 20 years to avoid environmental and social crises resulting from population problems,” he said.