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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 February 1999 Issue No. 417 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 February 1999 Issue No. 417
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Special Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A new life in the South
By Nevine Khalil
On Monday, for the sixth time in a little over two years, President Hosni Mubarak visited the mega desert reclamation project at Toshka in the south-western desert. On 9 January 1997 Mubarak gave the go-ahead for work to start on the project, which promises to multiply Egypt's inhabited, agricultural and industrial areas. Since then, he has routinely visited Toshka to check on the progress of work on the LE420 billion project. Only 20 per cent of the total cost will be footed by the government with the rest being covered by the private sector.
at Toshka
Ongoing mega development projects, including Toshka, aim to expand inhabited regions from 6 to 25 per cent of the country's total acreage. Egypt launched a number of mega development projects across the country after economic reforms bore fruit and the economy gained the confidence of local and foreign investors.
This week's visit came in the wake of strong criticism from opposition ranks, especially from the liberal Wafd Party, that Toshka is a waste of money and will never be successful because of the harsh terrain in the region. At the site, Mubarak addressed the critics. "They will change their minds when they know the facts," he said. "I listened to the views of technical, academic and research experts before the project was approved."
Mubarak was joined by ministers, parliamentarians, writers, journalists, entertainers and businessmen on the five-hour tour. They visited a giant pumping station, plantations, canals filled with water as well as others still under construction, and listened to a presentation by the prime minister and four cabinet ministers. The distinguished gathering of some 200 guests also watched as Mubarak handed contracts to 10 Toshka workers, making each the owner of around 10 feddans of land in the area. One of the recipients was the widow of an engineer who had died while working on the project.
Mubarak was joined by ministers, parliamentarians, writers, journalists, entertainers and businessmen on the five-hour tour. They visited a giant pumping station, plantations, canals filled with water as well as others still under construction, and listened to a presentation by the prime minister and four cabinet ministers. The distinguished gathering of some 200 guests also watched as Mubarak handed contracts to 10 Toshka workers, making each the owner of around 10 feddans of land in the area. One of the recipients was the widow of an engineer who had died while working on the project.
Mubarak heaped praise on the project, saying that it is "for young people who are the future, and an opportunity for those who seek a better life." He said that the project, which is expected to be completed in 20 years' time, will create "new lives, cities, villages and societies for Egyptians." Mubarak also pointed out that the environment in the south "does not carry one iota of pollution - the water is clear and the land is untouched by fertilisers. It is the project for the future."
Most of the 3,000 men toiling around the clock at Toshka are young men levelling the land and digging the canals for irrigation. Most Egyptian and foreign construction companies at the site have a long experience of similar work in Egypt and abroad. Approval has already been given for 80 per cent of the plans submitted for investment in agricultural and industrial projects. Mubarak described the project in the south as more than just an agricultural or industrial project. "This endeavour is a comprehensive programme to build a new society," he said, adding that the project would act as a springboard for numerous other development schemes.
Mubarak and his ministers assured the audience that investing in Toshka would pay off, although it would be a few years until the project was fully up and running. Assurances also came from a prominent Arab investor. Saudi businessman Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, who is reclaiming 120,000 feddans at Toshka, said that the project has "high economic feasibility." Bin Talal expressed surprise over opposition press reports criticising the project.
The prince is currently involved in negotiations with international companies for the management of certain engineering activities on his land, as well as for the setting up of technology transfer schemes.
Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri said that the project had been "the Egyptian dream since 1964," when construction began on the Aswan High Dam. He defended the project against its critics, maintaining that there are "no huge depressions or elevations (in the way of the irrigation canal under construction) as was claimed" and added that the value of tenders for digging work have dropped from an initial LE40 million to LE12-15 million. "The decrease in the cost of the tenders indicates that the terrain is easy to work on," said El-Ganzouri. He explained that only half of the originally planned Sheikh Zayed Canal had been built because it was later decided that the extra 150-km-long stretch was unnecessary. "The 158.8 kilometres under construction are enough to irrigate 540,000 feddans," said El-Ganzouri. "That is all that we need for now."
Minister of Public Works Mahmoud Abu Zeid said that 17 wells are currently being used to reclaim desert land, and that an additional 300 may be dug in future in areas where there is subterranean water. Minister of Housing Ibrahim Suleiman said that the newly inhabited areas will re-draw Egypt's population map by creating new agricultural and industrial communities. "It is the hope and the future for coming generations," he said. Suleiman added that in 1981 there were only two new industrial cities, compared to 17 today. "By the year 2002, there will be 27 satellite cities," he said.
According to Suleiman, houses in Toshka will be of a unique design to protect against the high temperatures in the region. Buildings will be whitewashed and shaded and will incorporate elevated interiors, high windows and narrow doors to prevent hot air from getting trapped inside.
Mubarak contradicted Suleiman on two points, however. Firstly, in contrast to the minister, the president favoured the construction of villages far away from agricultural land in order to avoid the emergence of slum areas. Secondly, Mubarak suggested that houses should not be placed close to each other in order to ensure privacy and to allow for wide roads. Suleiman had said that huddling the houses together would help to create shade.
Major plans scheduled for before the end of the millennium include a railway line from the Al-Dakhla oasis to Toshka, 2,000 housing units for workers and the first phase of a power supply to Toshka.
Satellite pictures of the terrain taken every 15 days indicate that work is moving ahead speedily, and, according to government reports, well ahead of schedule. Mubarak visited a huge pumping station currently under construction, which promises to be one of the largest of its kind. The station is designed to handle possible water pressure or seismic changes, according to Abu Zeid, and should be completed by October 2001.
Mubarak also visited the fuel and power complex, which will house electricity generators, water desalination and sewage treatment plants for use in irrigation, and accommodation for workers. On another stop, the distinguished visitors viewed the produce of an experimental patch of land, where pharmaceutical plants are being grown as well as vegetables and fruits. Later, they looked on as workers continued work on coating the Sheikh Zayed Canal. Between stops, the entourage was greeted by dozens of workers, frantically waving to the celebrities.
Other bystanders were university students camping at the site. As part of efforts to make the younger generation more acquainted with the project, around 400 university students visit Toshka annually, camping at the site and planting trees in the area.
