T

he construction of the sea wall has already started and now it is appropriate to create awareness about its advantages and disadvantages.

The sea wall is a man-made construction that is made to protect the shoreline against a wide range of erosion processes. It helps protect ports, roads and buildings that are near the coast. In addition, it can also protect future development works along the coastline. It provides a long-term solution against extreme water levels and a high degree of protection against coastal erosion.

A fine example of a sea wall saving a city is in India. In December 2004, when the tsunami crashed into the coastal Pondicherry region in Southern India, the historic center of the city remained unaffected from the fury of the tsunami'€™s waves, which rose 24 meters above the normal high tide mark, because of the strong sea wall constructed by French engineers 300 years back when it was a French colony.

However, it should be kept in mind that although it halts the erosion process it also stops the supply of sediments in the direction of long-shore drifts and modifies the sand movement pattern along the coastline, affecting the beaches, beach plants and sea-dwelling animals. Sea wall construction reduces the existing salt marshes, sandy beaches and areas of intertidal habitat and wetlands. It interferes with and can affect the dynamic marine ecosystem adversely.

A sea wall, however, may not be able to withstand the extreme erosion unless long-term planning is done and it is constructed according to proper technical guidance. It is not only an expensive project, but also requires constant maintenance.

But the core issue is the need of Jakarta.

Mira Bahukhandi
Jakarta