Mahiteme, Yirgalem(PhD)Legesse, Habtamu2018-07-022023-11-192018-07-022023-11-192011-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/5451The 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 townenGeography and Environmental StudiesThesis