ADDISABABA- Ministry of Urban Development and Construction disclosed that it has improved land policy implementation to ensure fair development among towns and cities across the nation.
Jantirar Abay, Minister of Urban Development and Construction Ministry, told The Ethiopian Herald that the Ministry has carried out various activities that would create comfortable environment and ensure economic benefits for the residents in the towns and cities.
According to the Minister, Ethiopia has more than 2,053 towns and two cities administrations; among these, over 1,900 towns and the cities have their own urban planning. “However, it is difficult to deduce that the plan has efficiently been implemented due to lack of adequate finance which has been a serious challenge to hinder the realization of the intended goal throughout the country, ” he said.
Urbanization is rapidly increasing across the nation regardless of its positive or negative consequences while the nature of the consequences depends on whether the towns properly implement urban planning or not, he noted.
“Some cities like Addis Ababa that are experiencing rapid expansion need extra infrastructure, budget and skilled man power to improve the livelihood of the dwellers. To meet the rising need, the Ministry has been accomplishing various activities,” he added.
As to him, the Ministry has been playing indispensable role in creating comfortable environment and building attractive places for the residents besides expanding jobs. “Effective implementation of urban planning has a very significant contribution to identify the type of land and the greenery areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry is responsible to protect any illegal practice that might impede the process of realizing competitive towns and cities that facilitate economic advantage for the residents, he underlined. According to the Ethiopian towns’ policy, a town is expected to have at least 2,000 residents.
The Ethiopian Herald April 13, 2019BY MESERET BEHAILU
