|
The Bahir Dar City Administration has begun evicting
settlers in the surroundings of Lake Tana and
granting the plots to investors in a bid to
revitalise tourism in the area. So far, 15 companies
have been given plots to construct lodges, hotels,
recreational centres and resorts.
These companies, with a combined capital of 1.7
billion Br, include Boston Day Spa Plc, Magbes,
Thirteen Months of Hospitality Plc, Dynamic Trading,
Star Business Group, and Lake Tana Transport. The
land allotments, however, have also reallocated land
currently held by the Amhara National Democratic
Movement (ANDM), the Region’s Water Works
Enterprise, Water and Sewerage Service of the
region, Amhara Development Association (ADA) and St.
George Church, among others.
The push to overhaul the area was inspired in part
by a study contracted to Finland’s DEVECON on the
effective utilisation of the Lake. According to the
study, the rise in temperature in the town is partly
due to the constructions by the landholders around
Lake Tana, which block the cold offshore wind from
blowing into the town. The study recommends the
clearing of barriers to the wind.
“The study will be implemented in accordance with
the city master plan,” Yaye Adam mayor of the town,
told Fortune. “Lake Tana is a wealth for the
residents. Nonetheless, the constructions undertaken
by the very few landlords do not fit with what the
place demands.”
Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, covers an area
of 3,600sqkm stretching 75Kms from South to North
and 60Km from east to west. Surrounding the Lake are
21 monasteries and churches, some seven centuries
old, boosting the tourism potential of the town.
According to Yaye, forthcoming hotels and
recreational facilities would give recreational
choices for residents in addition to accommodating
tourists.
The total land area designated for private investors
is 33.3hct, 10pc of the total, and the balance would
be developed as a recreational spot by the city
administration, the mayor said.
Despite the efforts by the administration, investors
are complaining that they could not immediately
acquire the plots.
The General Manager of one of the companies told
Fortune that he could not launch construction as
the land has yet to be appropriated from the current
occupants. The Amhara Regional State Administration
has allocated 32 million Br for compensation and
land development, yet the Ethiopian Reserve
Petroleum Depot Administration has objected to the
decision to dislocate them.
“ANDM and ADA have rather collaborated with us in
making the decision effective,” Yaye told Fortune.
“What is more, ANDM has told us to construct a
school with the compensation money we were about to
pay them.”
Bahir Dar, 560Km north
of Addis Abeba, has a population of 250,000, but a
mere 0.5pc reside around the shore.
|
