There Should be a Grand Design of Jakarta Bay Reclamation

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung is responding to the journalists’ questions on Jakarta Bay reclamation, at Building III Hall of the Ministry of State Secretariat, Jakarta, on Thursday (15/9) morning (Picture: Rahmad/Public Relations Office)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung confirmed that so far there is no limited meeting that specially discusses the issue of Jakarta Bay reclamation. The limited meeting on last Tuesday (13/9) did not discuss this issue. It discussed the current condition of fishing industry after consistently fighting against illegal fishing. Now, there are more fishes in the sea, thus, fishing industry can be developed.

“Therefore, the President gave direction to make use the fishes in, particularly, several industrial centers, such as in Ambon, Bitung, and Merauke,” Pramono told the journalists after the opening of Tax Amnesty Dissemination in Presidential Institution, held at Building III Hall, first floor, Ministry of State Secretariat, on Thursday (15/9) morning.

Regarding Jakarta Bay reclamation, the Cabinet Secretary firmly said, it must meet all steps, laws and legislations.

According to Pramono Anung, the President has delivered directives on reclamation in two limited meetings. The point is there should be a grand design. “The grand design, which is called Garuda, will be executed,” Mas Pram, Pramono Anung’s nickname, said.

The grand design refers to the Giant Sea Wall Project or National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD), that now is being assessed by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and is expected to be finished by October 2016.

The Cabinet Secretary explained that the grand design will be used as the foundation to solve the G Island problem. “This is our concern, right? It will be solved by the prevailing laws and legislations,” he said.

Would the reclamation of Jakarta Bay, in particular the G Island, be continued? According to Pramono Anung, it must meet several requirements.

There is no reason

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, ensured that the reclamation of the G Island will be continued. He said that the Government has no reason to stop the project.

“We already have a temporary conclusion. There is no reason for us to stop the reclamation of the north coast of Jakarta,” Luhut said after holding a closed meeting at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (13/9).

The decision to continue the reclamation in north coast of Jakarta, including the G Island, according to Luhut, has been assessed from various aspects, such as environment, legal aspect, and social impact studies. Moreover, his office also has coordinated with Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries as well as State Electricity Company (PLN). (FID/RAH/ES) (MMB/YM/Naster)