A draft bill suggesting the establishment of a federal coordinating agency for in integrated infrastructure has been tabled to the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR).

The Agency is mandated to execute infrastructure development works in accordance with road master plans and develop a formula for the assessment for the compensation of properties.

The draft bill stipulates the Agency is going to be responsible to the Prime Minister. It is anticipated to solve the recurrent problems of uncoordinated activities among different organizations. The uncoordinated activities are said to create chaos. For instance one organization might engage in a development activity and that is witnessed damaging infrastructure planted earlier by another organization.

The explanation attached to the draft bill states the agency is expected to deal with conflicting natures of infrastructure development. For example the agency will deal matters like a new road facing damages by other organizations’ expansion projects like by the Water Resource Development office, telecom expansion or electric power expansion by the newly formed Ethiopian Electric
Power Services Office (EEPSO).

According to the Reporter organizations that face fierce critics for demolishing newly built or existing roads are Ethio Telecom, EEPSO and Water and the Sewerage Authorities.

Source: The Reporter