JAKARTA, Jan. 11, 2019 (Xinhua) – Erlanka Hartarto, Coordinating Minister of Indonesian Economic Affairs, on Wednesday (January 10). Indonesia intends to expand its project to build a giant breakwater covering the northern coast of Java Island. It's not just Jakarta and Semarang. A special working group will be established soon.
The plan comes as land subsidence threatens Java's northern coast. It is the place where floods occurred, the ground subsides to a depth of 25 cm per year. Unlike rising sea levels due to climate change.
This is the most populated island. It is home to more than 50 million people and contributes 20.7 percent of the GDP through industrial activities, fishing, transportation and tourism.
The issue could also threaten 70 industrial zones and five special economic zones, as well as national logistics infrastructure facilities such as airports, railways and ports.
Hartarto added that long-term planning is needed to mitigate the risks of catastrophic climate change. Our efforts are to build 38.9 km of coastal breakwaters, and 18.3 km have now been built.
Hero Budi Hartono, acting governor of Jakarta, said that the Java region lost 2.1 trillion rupiah (about 4.72 billion baht) annually due to floods on the northern coast. This number could rise to 10 trillion rupiah (about 22.4 billion baht) annually within a decade.
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