Building climate resilient villages: Global experience
By Zelalem Girma
The City administration has ambitious plans to convert squalid slum areas into what will be a model for an emerging African city by building climate resilient centers for the preservation of the environment and sustainability of green economy, according to experts in the sector.
The plan is to turn the calamity to an opportunity by controlling and directing the water into attractive features such as ponds, waterways, urban gardens, and green areas. Such impressive development endeavors are globally practiced, for instance, in China, Angola and South Korea.
Office Senior Public Relations Expert Weredekal Gebre-kiristos told The Ethiopian Herald that the primary role of the rivers' development is to promote the health of residents and visitors besides boosting city's tourism sector. It is also crucial to prevent water contamination, control flash floods and landslides as well as expand recreational centers, he said.
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In addition, the project office is identifying areas which are vulnerable to flood, and implementing design of river banks to serve as recreational center and providing improved and quality environmental services for residents.
To make this happen, the city administration has allocated 68,373,883.15 birr for the construction of eight selected riversides which cover an area of 200,390 meter square. Of these, the construction of two was completed and works were handed over recently, while the remaining six are expected to be completed within 3 months, Weredekal disclosed.
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