Moving the capital won't prevent Jakarta from sinking, say experts

Motorists and motorcyclists driving through floodwater at the Taman Ratu housing complex in West Jakarta. Environmentalists have long blamed the worsening flooding in Jakarta to land subsidence in the capital city. - The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Environmentalists have cast doubt over the recent statement from Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria that relocating the capital city to East Kalimantan will help prevent Jakarta from sinking.

The statement was made in response to director of city-owned tap water company PAM Jaya, Arief Nasrudin, who said that 90% of Jakarta would sink by 2050 due to over-extraction of groundwater.