Jakarta's ironic infrastructure
It was a sunday morning and the day after my father's birthday. Because our family members and I didn't get the opportunity to spend as much time as we wished we had to celebrate his birthday, we decided to go out to treat him for breakfast or more specifically, brunch. We went to a place called Pondok Indah Kapuk, found in the north of Jakarta. It is my father's favourite area to find good food, especially those which originate from the north of Asia such as those from China, Japan, Korea, and so on.
Having been there for a countless number of times, the scenery to me tended to be very boring, except for that day. There was a huge rainstorm the night before and the huge storm drain next to the road was at full capacity. The storm drain was often an area for low income individuals in the slums beside it right opposite the bank of the road to throw garbage and other forms of waste into it, aiding Indonesia's everlasting pollution problem. The water was black and the smell was horrendous. Because the black water was in full view and took up enough of the storm drain so as to be right at ground level, stepping outside already meant that you can smell the water up to a 100m radius. Nevertheless with the family being in the car, it was not a problem. That is, until it flooded.
It's ironic how usually drains found on the road were meant to drain water into a huge storm drain. In Indonesia's case on that very day, it was completely the opposite. Water was coming from the drain onto the road. It was the first time I have ever seen a flood caused due to a flood drain, which was supposed to prevent flooding. The smell of the water seeped into the car, stinking up the interior. We drove through it as fast as we could, trying to get away from the smell but more importantly to stop the water from entering the engine to stall it.
Despite living in Indonesia for almost 4 years now, the whole concept of a storm drain causing a flood still seems unreal to me, especially in a place where anything could happen; Indonesia. It only goes to show how corruption has sunk its teeth so deep into Indonesian society that it could no longer maintain or improve its drainage systems despite having a lower ground level due to water being pumped out underground and lowering the water table.
However, as most economists will tell you, LICs are getting richer, but only at a slower rate. Similarly development happens in LICs, but at a slower rate. Jakarta is known to be "Bangkok 20 years ago", no matter what the time frame. This means that it will always be behind Bangkok in 20 years, despite its developments. Nevertheless as Indonesia's anti-corruption agency (which has rumours, only rumours, of being corrupted. Oh the irony) continues to do its job, recently arresting a high ranking official in the court of law, things in Indonesia will start to improve, if not then in a faster rate.
This was the flood that occured in the city center just this year. Many adults were happy to hear that they were not required to attend work. Unfortunately, it was a weekend and my friends and I did not have the privilege of getting to skip school.
Indonesia will continue to grow, and its inhabitants will continue to become more and more prosperous. However as for the problem with the drain, it will take a long time for that to change. Unfortunately the development has been done by private companies all making to make money off Jakarta's growing lucrative market with little government intervention in what is to be called a "mixed" economy.
I hope they fix it soon, because the stench was horrendous!
A very casual post today.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
Having been there for a countless number of times, the scenery to me tended to be very boring, except for that day. There was a huge rainstorm the night before and the huge storm drain next to the road was at full capacity. The storm drain was often an area for low income individuals in the slums beside it right opposite the bank of the road to throw garbage and other forms of waste into it, aiding Indonesia's everlasting pollution problem. The water was black and the smell was horrendous. Because the black water was in full view and took up enough of the storm drain so as to be right at ground level, stepping outside already meant that you can smell the water up to a 100m radius. Nevertheless with the family being in the car, it was not a problem. That is, until it flooded.
It's ironic how usually drains found on the road were meant to drain water into a huge storm drain. In Indonesia's case on that very day, it was completely the opposite. Water was coming from the drain onto the road. It was the first time I have ever seen a flood caused due to a flood drain, which was supposed to prevent flooding. The smell of the water seeped into the car, stinking up the interior. We drove through it as fast as we could, trying to get away from the smell but more importantly to stop the water from entering the engine to stall it.
Despite living in Indonesia for almost 4 years now, the whole concept of a storm drain causing a flood still seems unreal to me, especially in a place where anything could happen; Indonesia. It only goes to show how corruption has sunk its teeth so deep into Indonesian society that it could no longer maintain or improve its drainage systems despite having a lower ground level due to water being pumped out underground and lowering the water table.
However, as most economists will tell you, LICs are getting richer, but only at a slower rate. Similarly development happens in LICs, but at a slower rate. Jakarta is known to be "Bangkok 20 years ago", no matter what the time frame. This means that it will always be behind Bangkok in 20 years, despite its developments. Nevertheless as Indonesia's anti-corruption agency (which has rumours, only rumours, of being corrupted. Oh the irony) continues to do its job, recently arresting a high ranking official in the court of law, things in Indonesia will start to improve, if not then in a faster rate.
This was the flood that occured in the city center just this year. Many adults were happy to hear that they were not required to attend work. Unfortunately, it was a weekend and my friends and I did not have the privilege of getting to skip school.
Indonesia will continue to grow, and its inhabitants will continue to become more and more prosperous. However as for the problem with the drain, it will take a long time for that to change. Unfortunately the development has been done by private companies all making to make money off Jakarta's growing lucrative market with little government intervention in what is to be called a "mixed" economy.
I hope they fix it soon, because the stench was horrendous!
A very casual post today.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
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