TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Member of Jakarta Legislative Council’s D Commission, Yusriah Dzinnun, claims the five-meter tall embankment wall which is part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) hampers local fishermen from accessing the area’s fish market.

The legislator coming from the commission for development said that the giant sea wall keeping sea water from drowning the coastal area creates a minor challenge for fishermen to unload their catches from their boats.

“Imagine that they have to unload their catch over the five-meter tall wall, it’s a slight work to do. They even made handmade stairs,” said Yusriah at the DPRD headquarters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, July 2.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician asked the city to quickly complete the construction of the west-section NCICD so local fishermen would feel a direct economic impact.

Up until last year, Jakarta’s office of water resources (SDA) had completed “phase A” of the giant sea wall in the west NCICD.

“[Locals] say they have yet felt the effects of the construction,” said Yusriah, “I saw it myself while they unloaded there and they actually hope that the sea wall project will continue and not have it partially done.”

Initially, the NCICD not only acts as a sea wall to overcome floods on land, but it was also made to improve the quality of Jakarta’s environment in general or environmental remediation.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA