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Govt, Jakarta join hands to save capital from sinking
The expansion of tap water services is seen as crucial to halting land subsidence in the sinking capital, which is primarily driven by excessive groundwater extraction as not all residents have access to piped water.
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Non-potable: A child uses a hand water pump in Kali Besar, West Jakarta, on Oct. 29, 2019. The water, however, cannot be consumed because it has been contaminated by sea water. (JP/P.J.Leo)
T
he central government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jakarta administration on Monday to accelerate the construction of drinking water systems (SPAM) that would expand tap water service in the city.
The expansion of tap water services is seen as crucial to halting land subsidence in the sinking capital, which is primarily driven by excessive groundwater extraction as not all residents have access to piped water.
The agreement, which was signed by the Jakarta administration, Public Works and Housing Ministry, the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, as well as Home Ministry, was an important “milestone” for the government in addressing the issues, said Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan.
“The government, in collaboration with the Jakarta administration, has drawn up joint-planning for the SPAM projects, which is outlined in the MoU and includes details of the project, timelines as well as financing scheme,” Luhut said in a press conference on Monday.
He reiterated that addressing the water supply for Jakartans, which would also resolve land subsidence issues in the city, required “joint-commitment” from various stakeholders, considering the urgency of the issue.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan welcomed the agreement, saying he hoped it would help the city to address the longstanding issue of land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction.
“We are racing against time. On the one side, we experience land subsidence because of groundwater extraction. On the other side, there is a lack of tap water service for residents,” said Anies. “We want to address these two issues at the same time.”
