The Indonesian government is preparing to construct a giant sea wall to mitigate tidal flooding in coastal areas of Java.
The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, emphasised that this project is a crucial mitigation measure.
“The President has assigned us to prepare and carry out the construction of the Giant Sea Wall as an effort to protect the coast as well as mitigate tidal flooding due to significant abrasion and land subsidence, reaching 4 to 10 centimetres per year,” Yudhoyono said, as quoted from the press on Wednesday, the 19th of March.
The Giant Sea Wall has been designed as a long-term solution, particularly for Jakarta and the northern coast of Java. In recent weeks, severe flooding has affected various areas, especially the Greater Jakarta Area (Jabodetabek). Bekasi has been one of the worst-hit regions, with eight out of 12 sub-districts submerged, paralysing residents’ activities and causing extensive infrastructure damage.
Yudhoyono further stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, noting that constructing embankments alone would not suffice—improvements in upstream water management are also essential.
“We are certain that if we succeed in protecting the coast of Jakarta and Java, the potential losses due to flooding can be eliminated. This could be worth billions of US dollars in the next 20-30 years and, most importantly, save people,” he added.
However, Subianto’s administration has recently come under scrutiny due to various national issues, including a drastic decline in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) index. The Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) has assessed that the IHSG plunge resulted from the government’s failure to reassure the public and investors about the country’s economic future.
According to Celios Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira, public trust in the government has been particularly fragile in recent times.
“Our trust in the government, in public policy, can be said to be minus at this time,” Yudhistira remarked during an online discussion on social media platform X @dirtyvote on Tuesday, the 18th of March.