Large-scale extraction of groundwater by industries is causing three of Indonesia’s cities to sink faster than before, said the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Jakarta, Bandung and Semarang are reported to have alarming land subsidence rates. The capital, Jakarta, has the worst subsidence rate of up to 10 centimetres per year. Authorities said the alarming land subsidence rates also threaten the infrastructures in these big cities.
Local administrations were urged to restrict industrial use of groundwater by imposing stringent conditions on the issued permits.
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