Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has launched a 29-billion Birr project aiming at making Addis Ababa, meaning New Flower, live up to its name. The project aims to enhance the well-being of the city dwellers by mitigating river flooding and through the creation of public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the riverside.
This project will develop two of the largest rivers of the city Akaki and Kechene Rivers through Afincho Ber [around Addis Ababa University main campus], stretching a total of 56 kilometers long from Entoto Mountain to Akaki River. Geometra Luigi Varnero Construction Plc, better known as ‘Varnero’, was picked for the project by the newly established agency, the Addis Ababa River Basins and Park Development, which also heads the three-year project.
The agency is going to involve in activities like beautifying the river areas and cleaning the pollutant river into clean air sources and making green walkway, and developing river basin and making recreational area for youth and residents, planting indigenous plant in deforested and degraded place, restoring and conserving the river ecosystem to make destination areas for the city people and creating conducive training areas for the athletes.
Mainly the project work run by the various bodies and the main sources of the finance would be donors, businesspersons, public enterprises, embassies and the public at large. The project is mainly aimed at changing the livelihoods near the river bank of the city in sustainable manner reducing pollution and the agency and the residents living near the river had discussed about the project before it made public.
Around 12 km of the project will be financed by the Chinese government, this is in addition to the Italian government’s offer to support the project contributing about 5 million Euros. Plus, UNIDO, UNDP and other partner also contributed to the project, he said. About 250 local businessmen have so far confirmed their attendance to the Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s fundraising dinner already buying a 5-million Birr ticket. The project work would be kicked off after this grand event, he added. He also indicated that the project have runway, walkway, children play ground, rest areas, indigenous plants and like.
River Basin Green area Development and Administration Agency mainly overseas the project performance or works through carrying out supervision and inspection as well as fund raising activities. The public parks that will be developed through this project will have bicycle riders, pure water and solar energy supply and recreational areas. The project is expected to be completed within three years, and can create job opportunities at least to 10,000 city dwellers during the construction phase and beyond.
The green initiative could prove the transformation of Addis Ababa to one of Africa’s largest cities. The city has a huge diplomatic presence and is home to both the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Upon completion, the project is expected to contribute to the aesthetic value with the buffers of indigenous trees. It will eventually reach up to Entoto Kidane Miheret church after three years.
For his part, Dr. Kumilachew Yeshitila, Urban Ecosystem Planning Department Head at Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development said the project creates thousands of job opportunities and treats the landscape and demographic features of the river bank in Addis flood prone areas. Two years ago, feasibility study was carried out on the social, economic and environmental impacts of Addis Ababa’s river bank in a bid to create a clean city environment, according to him.
The Ethiopian Herald May 17/2019
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
