Flood relief canals are yet to be finished, waterways that were dredged are once again laden with the plastic debris that Jakarta seems infested with, Dengue Fever strikes again in the slums of East Jakarta and Bekasi and, it is thought that the worst has yet to come.
Yet, despite the torrential downpours, the city is dying through lack of, yes, you guessed it…water.
It is currently thought that Jakarta is sinking at a rate of between 5-10 cm per year and, given these figures it is clear that in the not too distant future the floods of today will appear miniscule compared to the problems a city below sea level faces.
Groundwater extraction is considered the main culprit, however, it is estimated that more than half the city relies upon the subterranean water sources.
To get a better idea about groundwater usage and it’s sustainability I found this picture on Wiki and scarily, it shows how the aquifers replenish and more importantly, demonstrates that unless carefully used the system can fall into the millennia curve which is where the pundits claim Jakarta is heading – fast!
Estimates to connect houses with mains water and sewage systems are astronomical and no-one, not even private industry can see a way of making any return on investment on a project whose scale cannot be properly imagined.
Think tanks have another option; let’s move Jakarta away from Jakarta. Not strictly speaking what they intend, but, the movement of political power from Jakarta to a fresh site would allow a new start with an infrastructure designed to handle the requirements that a modern capital city needs.
Locations in Central Java and even Kalimantan have been suggested; hopefully with an eye on what impact such a move would have on the existing area, yet, it seems that on the whole such a scheme is destined to failure, mostly due to “what will we do with the old place”?
It is off course about money. Who will pay for a relocation?
If we don’t move, who will pay for the MTR the city so greatly requires?; who will pay for the large scale water conservation programme that is required?; who will pay for the increased green area’s that will be needed to soak up the cities daily figure of 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions?; who will pay for the clean water and sewage systems mentioned above?; and, perhaps more importantly, who will NOT pay for the shortcuts, permissions and general skulduggery involved in any project that is approved.
Ironically, Jakarta stands on a brink, stark choices have to be made and as of today there is no single body that has the power or financing to oversee such an ambitious plan and execute these schemes in a co-ordinated manner.
Until that body is created, it seems we must endure the shitty air (347 days out of 365), be prepared for 2014 when the entire city is expected to become gridlocked, expect to be one of the third of the population who are sickened by respiratory illness once a month, and as for the shits, get used to them, they may be here for many years to come.
Top Investment Tip: Buy shares in any company who manufactures a product that will stop you coughing your guts up or shitting yourself. I foresee a continued demand for these Jakartan essentials.
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