Introduction

Indonesia comprises some 13,667 islands (and more it appears, are being found). Java, the most densely populated island, was important historically and continues to be Indonesia's economic and agricultural centre. The former capital city of the Dutch colony of Java and its surrounding islands, Batavia, now known as Jakarta, is located on a flat river delta plain on West Java's northern coast. With an estimated population of some 12 million in 1998, Jakarta ranks among the world's 11 largest cities and is one of 16 mega-cities in developing countries. Jakarta has characteristics that may be considered similar to those of the other mega-cities in Southeast Asia — Bangkok and Manila.

The population of the Jakarta mega-urban region or the greater urban area beyond its official boundaries would be much larger, estimated at some 17 to 20 million people. Jakarta's growth has been similar to the other cities, with substantial urban sprawl. Suburban development is spilling over and even incorporating and transforming neighbouring regional urban centres or towns. Urban land-use varies widely with a diversity of industries, services and housing of all types.

Like the other primate and capital cities in the region, Jakarta has a concentration of government and business activities including the manufacturing sector as well as construction, utilities, trade and services and finance. Jakarta is also the site of the headquarters of Indonesia's largest banks as well as the offices of multinational corporations. Not unexpectedly, Jakarta is also where most of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and hence, jobs in Indonesia are being generated. Just before the 1998 economic crisis, the GDP of the city was reportedly 3 per cent higher than the national rate.

Yet, social development indicators suggest a city of social contrasts. Even in the late 1980s, less than a quarter of the city's population was directly connected to a piped water supply system. Some 30 per cent depend entirely on water that they buy from vendors. This has driven the cost of water to five times that of piped drinking water. The city has no waterborne sewage system.