Jakarta Governor Optimistic Giant Sea Wall to Start in 2013

Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, Jokowi, is optimistic that the construction of giant sea levees or giant sea wall to prevent sea water inland will start this year. "This project (giant sea wall) should not be delayed anymore. If the calculations are finished, we could immediately begin the construction this year," the governor said at the City Hall here on Monday. According to Jokowi, the giant sea wall is important for Jakarta because the sea water continues to rise, while the ground level is decreasing. "If we do not want to be constantly under the sea level, this levee should be constructed as soon as possible. The wall is also intended to protect the capital from being inundated by the sea water which often occurs in northern Jakarta," said Jokowi. Jokowi said the construction of 32 kilometer-long giant sea wall will cost an estimated Rp100 trillion. There are a number of investors who wanted to join the project until today. "All the studies related to giant sea wall are still ongoing, both in terms of technical, economic and environmental aspects. Already there are many investors who are interested and ready to join this project," said Jokowi. The idea of the Giant Sea Wall project came from former Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo to address flooding in Jakarta, especially in the northern area of the capital city. (*)