By Merga Yonas

The Oromia Special Zone Land Administration and Environmental Protection Bureau is to implement a detailed ground survey of land-use management around the eight special zones. The special data of the first phase study on land-use management was started in 2008 and its implementation was started in late February 2010. The study was conducted by the Oromia Water Works and Design Enterprise (OWWDE) covering all the eight zones of Dukem, Sebeta, Burayu, Galan, Sululta, Holeta, Sendafa and Legetafo.

For instance, heavy industry was managed to be in Sebeta and Galan; developing real estate, smokeless industry and clean machinery was set for Burayu; agriculture was projected to be in Suluta, and Holeta was picked for diary farm and horticulture products, Awal Abdi, head of the zone’s Land Administration and Environmental Protection Bureau told The Reporter.

The second phase study, which was started two months back, focus on a detailed ground survey of all the eight special zones. Though the field survey of the study was completed, its implementation plan is going to be undertaken soon, he added.

The study, which considered residential areas as well as industrial, agricultural and service sector areas, focuses on the creation of a safe and healthy living environment, the protection of biodiversity, the provision of a legal basis for the participation of the public in land-use management matters as well as the resolution of conflicts between different land users, Awal Abdi told the Reporter.

The study has 377 socio-economic variables regarding the eight towns, which will be evaluated by a committee of 10 experts from various offices of the Special Zone Administration as well as from the zone’s Land Administration and Environmental Protection Office, Taye Alemayehu, general manager of OWWDE, told The Reporter. The committee will also consult with various stakeholders, including investors and academic professionals, Awal Abdi said.

The enterprise, which was paid 5.8 million birr for the study, has been working on it since late 2008. The study was financed by the Finfinne Surrounding Forest Development Enterprise and the Oromia Regional Government. The special zone has a total area of 480,000 hectares. The Special Zone Administration has to date leased 4,000 hectares of land for investment, which is less than one per cent of the zone’s land cover.

“The land we have given for investment is small, but the industry, service and agriculture sectors in the zone can potentially create jobs for 116,000 people,” Awal said. Awal hopes that more land will be leased to investors once the studies are completed.

EthiopianReporter