Impact of Land Acquisition on the Livelihoods: The Case of Gilibina-Akuna-Agita-Merewo-Besikiya Road Project Telemet Woreda, North Gondar Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Gilibina_Akuna_Agita_Merewo_Besikiya road project is located in Amhara National Regional State, North Gondar Administrative Zone, Telemte woreda.

The settlement pattern of the population residing in the project Woreda is dispersed and mainly concentrated in rural settlements that are mainly at lower level of socio economic status. The project influence Woreda lack adequate social services and other infrastructural services, such as road and communication networks.

The total length of the road project is 98.06 km and is Design Standard (DC3).

The construction of the project road as per the route selection study and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) will improve the livelihood of the local populations that are crossed by the road project. It could also contribute to the growth and development of trade and urban centers, improvement of crop and livestock production and its marketing network. The natural resource and human resource potentials are also highly important in contributing to the development of the project area.

The project road is expected to have both positive and negative impacts in the direct Project Influence Area (PIA), as well in the indirect influence area. The potential social impacts will be quicker felt in the direct influence area. The adverse (or negative) environmental and social impacts are very minimal and could not make significant impacts that will impede the life of the local population.

The proposed project road is in harmony with all the national development policies and strategies of Ethiopia, and fulfils all requirements set forth both by the Federal and Regional Governments.

The land acquisition report presents the policy, legal and Administrative framework; the valuation measures, the compensation payment to be made for the PAPs including restoration measures, and it also establishes methodologies for compensation estimate and payment. The basis of the land acquisition report is a socio economic assessment of the livelihoods that will be affected due to the construction of the project road which include the number of Project Affected Persons, the size of affected properties and asset.

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-1-03