Challenges of urban plan implementation in small towns of Ethiopia: The case of Gelan town
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
The sudden establishment and eventual growth of Gelan town brought many urban plan
implementation challenges that need to be investigated to minimize the spillover impacts of
urbanization in Gelan town. Gelan town is established after the establishment of some
investments and has been grown by displacing and affecting the livelihood of local farmers. The
overall impacts of urbanization on the local farmers requires to look into the local ecology
towards which Gelan town is expanding, role of investments operating in the area, the plan that
guides development and future expansion.
This research is an attempt to investigate the challenges of urban plan implementation in Gelan
town with a particular emphasis on the livelihood of farmers, role of investments of the town to
the local economic development and ground water resource of the area. Accordingly, to look into
the issues I have used both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques.
Data collected through interviews, questionnaires and field observations were analyzed and
presented through discussions, tables, figures and maps.
The findings revealed that most investments and recreational centers before the establishment
of Gelan are located along highway and occupy large blocks that hinder accessibility of land uses
at the back. The ground water catchment area of Akaki partially within the planning unit of
Gelan town. Intensive constructions taking place in the area is believed to have a negative
impact on the ground water recharge of the area from where water is supplied to the population
of southern Addis Ababa. The research also found out that farmers whose livelihood is based on
farming are forced to change their livelihood strategies by renting farmland using money
obtained through compensation. As a result, the livelihood of farmers is negatively affected.
The analysis of Gelan town structure plan showed that the plan was implemented poorly and
lacked plan evaluation, monitoring and updating taskforce. As a result, irregular and irrational
development as well as incompatible land uses are common along Addis Ababa-Adama highway
crossing the town
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Small towns of Ethiopia