Giant Sea Wall Jakarta (Indonesian: Tanggul Laut Raksasa Jakarta) is part of a massive coastal development project in Jakarta, Indonesia which commenced in 2014 and expected to be materialized by 2027. The coastal development project includes the construction of a giant seawall along the coast, building a water reservoir, and the reclamation of land. Construction of an 8 km part of the sea wall along the coast was officially launched on Oct. 9, 2014. Floods in Jakarta are chronic, especially during the monsoon season. In 2007, the city suffered from catastrophic flooding that resulted in 76 deaths and half a million flood victims displaced or otherwise impacted. Jakarta lies on a low flat basin 23 feet (7 m) above sea level. 40 percent of that, particularly the northern areas, is below sea level. Given the continuous groundwater extraction and the pressure of skyscraper developments, Jakarta is sinking at 5 to 10 centimeters per year, up to 20 centimeters. From 2000 to 2050 the potential coastal flood extent is estimated to increase by 110.5 km2 due to both land subsidence and sea level rise; it is estimated that the city will be entirely submerged by 2050. Furthermore, it is estimated that the city's population of over 10.6 million people will be displaced, especially those communities closest to water bodies. To prevent this, a feasibility study to build a dike on Jakarta Bay was undertaken. The project is known as National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) master plan or Giant Sea Wall Jakarta. The project, which also has the task of revitalizing the coastline and most importantly offering a vision of the future for the Indonesian capital, was designed by the architecture firm KuiperCompagnons of Rotterdam and with a collaboration between Indonesia, and a consortium of Dutch companies (Witteveen+Bos and Grontmij), which formed National Capital Integrated Coastal Development and were all involved in the creation of the master plan that started in 2008.
Background
In 1995, President Suharto issued Presidential Decree No. 52 regarding the Reclamation of North Jakarta Coast. This decree stipulated that the governor of Jakarta is the authorized party for reclamation. The annex to the decree showed that the reclamation was not in the form of separate islands off the northern coastline but rather an expansion of the coastal area. However, due to the economic crisis that hit Indonesia in 1997, the development process was postponed. In 1999, the DKI Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) and the provincial government, under Governor Sutiyoso, issued the Regional Regulation on the 2010 Spatial Plan, in which reclamation was included in the spatial plan and altered from the 1995 plan. The reclamation was aimed at international trade and services, residential areas, and tourism ports. The Regional Spatial Plan (Perda RTRW) indicated that reclamation would cover an area of approximately 2,700 hectares, intended for residential use.
Lawsuit by the Ministry of Environment In 2003, the Ministry of Environment, then led by Minister Nabiel Makarim, issued Ministerial Decree No. 14 stating that the reclamation and revitalization project of the North Jakarta coastline was not feasible. The Ministry argued that the reclamation would increase flood risks, particularly in the northern areas, destroy marine ecosystems, and reduce fishermen's income. The project would also require around 330 million cubic meters of sand (for an area of 2,700 hectares), and would interfere with Muara Karang power plant in North Jakarta. In 2003, six contractors sued the decision at the State Administrative Court. The six companies involved were: PT Bakti Era Mulia, PT Taman Harapan Indah, PT Manggala Krida Yudha, Pelindo II, PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, and PT Jakarta Propertindo. Despite the ongoing legal process, in 2007 Governor Sutiyoso issued a principal permit for Island 2A, which later became Island D, for PT Kapuk Naga Indah, a subsidiary of Agung Sedayu Group, on July 19 through Governor's Letter No. 1571/-1.711. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Ministry of Environment in the case against the six contractors' appeal, stating the reclamation was not feasible at the cassation level. Previously, the ministry had lost in two lower courts. However, in 2011, during the Judicial Review of the case between the Ministry of Environment and the six contractors, The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the six contractors.
Further Plans for Reclamation of North Jakarta Bay
As the project developed, the reclamation originally intended for the North Jakarta Coast under Presidential Decree No. 52/1995 changed when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued Presidential Regulation No. 54 concerning the spatial planning of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak, and Cianjur. Article 70 states that Presidential Decree No. 52/1995 is still valid as long as it does not conflict with regulations under this 2008 Presidential Regulation. However, Article 72 states that Presidential Decree No. 52/1995, as far as it pertains to spatial planning, is no longer valid. These two articles became the source of debate regarding Presidential Decree No. 52/1995, which was the primary legal basis for the reclamation of Jakarta Bay by the DKI Jakarta Government. The northern coast of Jakarta is planned to undergo land reclamation. The area to be reclaimed will cover 17 islands. Two developers who had already received permits during the administration of Governor Fauzi Bowo are PT Muara Wisesa Samudera, a subsidiary of Agung Podomoro Group, and PT Kapuk Naga Indah, a subsidiary of Agung Sedayu Group. The development of each island has different purposes, some of which are:
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