ADDIS ABABA – Addis Ababa City Administration River Basins and Green Areas Development and Administration Agency announced that Addis Ababa River Side Project has been obtaining support from national and international anchor organizations.
General Director of the Agency Sileshi Degefa (Dr) told The Ethiopian Herald that famous international organization like Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and United Nation Development Program (UNDP) have been participating to support the project through providing technical support based on research. He noted that for the success of the project, government has established a team drawn from different stakes, scholars including from nongovernmental organizations.
Scholars from higher educationAddis Ababa University- are discharging their responsibility by providing professional supports. He underscored that senior officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed(Dr) and Addis Ababa Deputy Mayor Eng. Takele Uma have shown their commitment for the project and it is expected to be completed successfully within the set time.
According to him, the Agency has been creating awareness of the community living in different sub cities and may be influenced by the project. People suffer from polluted river water and over flow of rivers during rainy seasons. To end up this and improve the lives of citizens, the City Administration has proposed this project, he said.
The project would have great returns in terms of elevating the capital to a site of urban tourism through the rehabilitation of its historic rivers and river banks, improving the well being of its dwellers, reducing river flooding and converting them in to public spaces and parks, he opined.
Furthermore, as to him, it enables the country realize its aspiration of nurturing a green economy through the expansion of green spaces. Likewise, it will create job opportunity for around ten thousand people. Varnero Construction Company of Italy that won a bid to construct the project will provide 4o percent of the construction activities to local construction companies to support them.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 27/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
