Nusantara will be the new capital of Indonesia, right?
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Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is sinking and gradually being swallowed by the sea. Since the 1970s, the giant city has sunk by 4 metres. Every year the city sinks further. This is the reason why Jakarta is to be replaced by Nusantara as the capital of Indonesia. Nusantara is a brand new city under construction. The problem is that it is being built in one of the world’s largest rainforest areas.
Why is Jakarta sinking?
Jakarta lies to a large extent on moist soil. All the buildings, cars and all the 11 million inhabitants make the carrying capacity fail. The fact that the inhabitants also use groundwater as a water source contributes to further weakening the carrying capacity.
According to the plan, Jakarta will still be the economic center of Indonesia, while the political and administrative will be moved to the new city of Nusantara. This will relieve the pressure on the moist soil and cause the city to sink more slowly. There are also plans to build a wall around the city to prevent it from being swallowed by the sea. Jakarta is considered the world’s most polluted city, which is primarily due to traffic. Air pollution reduces Jakarta residents’ life expectancy by 5.5 years, US researchers say.
Jakarta is not the only city in the world that is sinking due to its carrying capacity. Large parts of the US east coast do the same, but to a far lesser extent than Jakarta. Also on the east coast of the USA, it is the load-bearing capacity due to the buildings that is the problem.
Nusantara a green modern capital
According to the plan, Nusantara will become a green and modern capital. A kind of symbol that Indonesia is taking the step up to a modern and well-developed country. By building a brand new capital, they will have a better opportunity to build an infrastructure that is modern. Jakarta’s traffic chaos is well-known and ill-suited for a modern administrative city.
If all goes according to plan, Nusantara will be inaugurated as the capital on 17 August this year. The transfer of people will take place gradually and will not be completed until 2045.
Sources:
Indonesian president breaks ground for airport in planned $32-bln capital | Reuters
Indonesia president found negligent over Jakarta filthy air – BBC News