Thursday 24 October 2013

Urbanisation on UN-HABITAT agenda

A delegation from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme wrapped up its visit to Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw last week with a vow to assist the government as it grapples with the problems and opportunities afforded by the nation’s rapid urbanisation.

Joan Clos, the executive director of UN-HABITAT, spent most of the week in Nay Pyi Yaw meeting members of several government ministries, including the ministries of forestry and construction, although he said no specific initiatives were discussed.

He did, however, advise on interim policy changes that could provide some relief in overcrowded Yangon, including limiting the number of vehicles on its roads as well as quickly expanding the number of residential homes in order to accommodate a rapidly increasing population.

“The infrastructure can’t cope with the elevated population of this city. We need to try to see the possibility of the government planning the expansion of the city,” he said.

While quick-fix policies do exist to alleviate the city from the pressures that come with a growing economy, he said that long term growth would take more time.

“The one law of urbanisation is you need to be patient, not to expect miracles in a short period of time.”

UN-HABITAT has been active in Myanmar since the early 1990s, and continues to run dozens of small projects in rural Chin, Shan and Kachin states, mainly focused on small-scale infrastructure and disaster risk reduction.

source: The Myanmar Times
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/property-news/8513-urbanisation-on-un-habitat-agenda.html

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