Indonesia's new capital

Minister: We have drinkable tap water - tested myself

The tap water in Indonesia's planned new capital, Nusantara, is drinkable, the Jakarta Globe reports. It is unusual in the country, where the vast majority of residents are forced to rely on bottled mineral water.

- I personally tested the tap water. It's drinking water, not just clean water, says Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta Post reports that nearby villages have had their drinking water sources destroyed by the urban development.

Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, was inaugurated on Saturday, but is not expected to be fully completed until 2045.

The new city is being built at least in part to relieve the current capital Jakarta - which is in danger of sinking.

Outgoing President Joko Widodo inspects the presidential palace in Nusantra earlier this summer.

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Indonesia inaugurates new capital - could be "functional" in five years

Tomorrow, Saturday, Indonesia officially opens its planned new capital Nusantara, writes Deutsche Welle. The city has been built to replace the existing capital, Jakarta.

But large parts of the huge construction project are not finished, and according to the newspaper, the question now is whether it ever will be. The number of international guests invited to the opening has been cut from the planned 8,000 people to 1,000. This is because Nusantra cannot yet offer food or accommodation for so many guests.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto admits the project has difficulties.

- I will continue and, if possible, finish the project. I think the capital can be functional in four to five years, he says.