TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - From January to June, the Jakarta government closed off 28 illegal wells located in 24 buildings that have no permit to take out ground water from wells. From 2015 to 2016, 208 similar wells were found and closed off.

"We immediately closed off the wells," the Department of Industry and Energy's geology and ground water head Agus Saryanto said last week.

Several managers of the buildings, Agus said, immediately went to get permits, but the Jakarta government can only issue permits after getting a recommendation from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Geological Agency.

He said that Jakarta's groundwater condition is very critical because of excessive suctioning, causing a decrease of ground level.

He asked the government to regulate the use of ground water to ensure there is enough supply for the future generations.

"Its use must be controlled, let children and grandchildren enjoy the ground water as well," he said.

WALHI program and campaign manager for Jakarta Zulpriadi, said that excessive groundwater exploitation not only has an impact on the environment. "It makes it difficult for the poor to access ground water," he said.

The impact is exacerbated by the land conversion, whereas water catchment areas are now turned into commercial sites. The government, he said, must ban building constructions in water catchment areas and the building owners must be given penalties.

"There should be a collective environmental audit as well."

GANGSAR PARIKESIT | ERWAN HERMAWAN