BY TAMERU REGASA
Ethiopia is one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in sub-Saharan Africa where urbanization is largely taking place through unplanned urban growth which aggravates environmental problems.
To reverse this in 2015, the country formulated National, Urban Green Infrastructure Standards which aimed to create ecologically well-functioning, aesthetically pleasing, and socially beneficial green spaces in cities and provide suitable, sufficient and ecologically viable green spaces for recreational, social, economic and environmental needs of the community.
Dukem town Administration has been working to implement the standards. To do this, the administration has been undertaking different greenery development projects.
More than all, the town administration has been operating to build City Park through creating independent project called Dukem City Park Project.
As to the information obtained from the project proposal, the construction of the project is helpful to heighten the national green legacy program, minimize air pollution, serve as recreational center for youth, Improve life style and confortable for the society and create high job opportunities.
The proposal indicated that private sectors, merchants, developmental organizations, government employees and resident of the city are source of budget to accomplish the plan.
Teshome Girma, Mayor of the town presenting on fund raising program said that the park can change the total image of the town. As to him, the project has included additional 12 sub projects within it: Recreational center, cafeteria, artificial lake and river, horse field, Amphee Theater and monument.
He noted that the community of the town will obtain social, cultural and economic benefits from the project. He reflected that the project will enable to create over 3000 permanent and temporary job opportunities.
As to the mayor, the construction of the park is also helpful to promote our culture stating that sycamore tree (Oda) which is considered as source of peace and emblem for oneness of Oromo people will be planted and conserved in the park. Elders and community leaders discuss under the umbrella of the tree.
He underscored that the construction of green building which is constructed from environmentally preferable building materials also included in the project.
He reflected that the project requires 350 million birr and we can accomplish it through strengthening community participation for the project.
He added that on behalf of the community there is great motivation to contribute on the project mentioning that on the first fund raising program the administration collected over 73 million Birr from the community.
Apart from this project, previously the town administration has been developing four greenery sites at six hectares of land by participating four private companies such as Roda Business group, Habesha steel, IBOW and Unilever companies.
While the sites that have been developed by Roda Business and IBOW Company have been found in Gogecha Kebele, the rest two are found in Melka Dukem Kebele. The sites have been developed in modern way and in line with the master plan of the city. They were constructed with an out lay of 28 million Birr and they have a potential to create job opportunities for more than 250 people.
