Ulma Haryanto

Bajajs surfing the waves of tidal surges are a common sight in Muara Baru. Tidal flooding in northern parts of the city has become more common. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

As Tidal Surges Worsen, North Jakarta’s Urban Planning Remains Under Water

Rini, a housewife living in the Marunda area in North Jakarta, is used to the monthly floods that come whenever the Java Sea rises. But the tidal surge on Thursday caught her off guard.

“It has never been that high. All that I could think of was my grandchildren,” said Rini, whose house sits a meter away from the sea. “I had to wait until the next day to clean up. The flood left a big mess.”

The water level on Thursday reportedly reached 50 centimeters, up from the usual 20-30 cm.

Fishermen, who said they lost millions of rupiah when the waters washed away the shrimp and fish in their weirs, were quick to blame climate change, but urban planning may be a more decisive factor.

Since 2000, Marunda — a hodgepodge of public beaches, fishermen’s housing, cultural conservation sites (Marunda is the village where a local hero, Si Pitung, was born), harbors and factories — has lost about two kilometers of land to the waters.

Mustihar, a climate change researcher for the Institute for Essential Services Reform and a volunteer for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), said that most pathways connecting the coastal subdistricts that were there five months ago are now nowhere to be seen.

“There used to be a public cemetery next to the mosque,” he said. “But now it’s under water. If people swim in that area, they could find human remains at the bottom.”

Most experts point to poor urban planning that has allowed excessive groundwater extraction. This factor has frequently been cited as a reason why Jakarta’s northern areas are sinking.

The Jakarta Globe has previously reported that many areas along Jakarta’s northern coastline — Muara Baru, Muara Karang, Penjaringan, Pademangan, Tanjung Priok, Pluit, Koja and Kapuk Muara — are at the mercy of tidal surges.

Fakhrurozi, head of the water resources division at Jakarta’s Public Works Department, estimates that the city has sunk by as much as 1.5 meters in the past decade, and by about 2 meters near the site of the former Bintang beer factory in Pluit.

In addition, many of Marunda’s mangroves, which provide protection from waves and help reduce shoreline erosion, have been turned into weirs.

The government and a number of NGOs have made several attempts to replant mangroves, but their efforts have so far been rendered useless by the tides.

“There were some patches of mangrove trees in the area that grow on their own, but it isn’t much,” said Syuaib, a local fisherman who works on several community empowerment activities in Marunda.

“But we are testing a new plantation technique, and we hope that it will work.”

There are few waste management facilities. And so flooding is not Marunda’s only problem. Industries and factories used to dump their waste into the sea every week.

“People cried when they found so many dead fish. You could see the water change color. Sometimes it’s red, sometimes it’s white like milk,” said Mustihar, another resident.

Although it does not happen as often as it did six months ago, the waste still poses serious health hazards. Residents are prone to skin diseases, cataracts and diarrhea to name but a few. “The waste water is also heavier, so it lingers at the bottom for some time,” Mustihar continued.

To help address the flooding, the Jakarta administration is building a 2-meter high, 3-meter thick sea defense wall that will offer some residents protection from tidal surges. The wall will stretch for 560 meters along the coastline, starting from the neighboring Kali Baru area.

But it’s not good news for everyone. The wall will not protect the entire coastline.

“Some 10-20 houses will be left out,” said Aman Bogor, a local neighborhood leader. “But it’s better than nothing.”

Rini’s house is among those that will remain exposed. “When I asked the subdistrict chief to extend the wall, he laughed and told me, ‘Well, you should get ready for another clean-up,’ ” she said. “There used to be houses in front of my shop, but all of them are gone now. I might have to relocate soon. But that’s up to my husband.”

Relocating has always been a difficult development issue. The East Flood Canal being built next to the village would help deter the annual floods, should it serve its purpose. But some 50 families will need to be relocated, including Pak Agus. Providing he can still live close to the water, he said he would not object to moving. But in the mean time, he’ll wait for compensation from the government.

A few hundred meters away from the coast sits the government’s subsidized apartment complex where Marunda’s flood-weary residents could potentially move. But the 26 units lie dormant in the background, almost deserted.

To date, only three blocks are occupied. Each unit rents out for between Rp 90,000 to Rp 150,000 ($9.54 to $15.90) per month, excluding utilities. But the complex still lacks a fresh water supply and has little access to public transport and other necessities such as markets, schools and health care facilities.

There is another problem which has so far precluded fishermen and their families moving there, Syuaib said. “People have to rent, when they are used to having a place of their own,” he said.

“For us, fishermen, we can’t live on the land. We are so used to living by the sea,” said Agus, another fisherman. “And also, where can I moor my boat?”

Your View

See Result