'Secret' North Giza development project threatens residents, says activist.

CAIRO: Following over one year since the presidential decree to develop the entire district of North Giza in May 2007, the plans continue to trigger controversy due to the lack of information about the project.

The district of North Giza includes the underprivileged areas of Warrak, Munira and the large neighborhood of Embaba.

According to government sources, the project includes building roads linking Rod El Farag district to the Ring Road leading to Sixth of October City and linking Ahmed Orabi Street to the Ring Road through Embaba Airport Land, the site of what used to be Embaba Airport.

The project includes "making use" of the land surrounding Embaba Airport through encouraging investment in the area. The whole region of North Giza measures around 3,147 acres inhabited by 450,000 residents.Aa The land surrounding Embaba Airport is around 160 acres.

The Popular Committee for the Protection of Embaba Airport Land, a grassroots group, has repeatedly criticized what they called "the secrecy" surrounding the development project and the lack of real data revealing its true nature.

"We have certain questions that we need answered," Mohamed Saleh, the committee's coordinator told Daily News Egypt, adding that Giza Governor Sayed Abdel Aziz had refrained from answering theses questions during a press conference held last month to discuss the project.

"How many homes will be demolished? Where? When? What are the criteria for the so-called 'fair compensation'? And how will the government fund the project?" asks Saleh.

Daily News Egypt made several attempts to contact Governor Abdel Aziz, but was repeatedly told that he was unavailable.

The committee filed a law suit against Abdel Aziz last September and is expecting the State Council to set a date for the trial this week according to Mohamed Ezz Eldin Eissa, the committee's lawyer.

"The law emphasizes that the local municipal council must be consulted in any new development project, which did not happen. NGOs should be asked to participate and put forth the priorities, which did not happen either," said Saleh

Saleh also pointed out that the law forces them to heed the opinion of NGOs and residents and re-organize and plan the development project accordingly; it should also publish them in official newspapers, all of which has not happened.

"They say about 83 percent of the land will be sold to the investor to use the money to fund the project. But according to the law, the planning should have been within the means of public funds. It has to be part of the state budget," Saleh said. "The law does not allow the government to make clandestine projects."

A random sample of residents at the Embaba Airport Land area proved the total oblivion of the local population about their destiny.

Sherif Fadl, the owner of a fishery and one of the residents of the area, said that he only heard that some houses will be demolished.

"I have not received official warnings or evacuation orders, and neither has anyone I know; no one knows anything," Fadl said.

"We asked the local council and went to the governorate headquarters, but we still don't know which houses will be torn down," said resident Mohamed Abdel Aziz, the owner of a pastry shop.

Although most agreed that they would prefer to stay where they are, some were willing to move out depending on the amount and nature of the promised compensation.

"We are not against public good. There were cases where people were relocated to better areas but others were sent to remote areas in bad neighborhoods," Fadl said.

Saleh however showed concern over the potential for corruption due to the secrecy shrouding the entire project.

"Those who know which houses will be demolished will benefit from that secrecy. The prices of the remaining properties will also skyrocket. If the government itself says that corruption has reached its peak, how can we trust that no one will profit from the situation?" Saleh wondered.

The Popular Committee is also shedding light on another multi-faceted developmental issue unrelated to finding alternative housing. They argue that many residents prefer the shantytown style of their squatter areas to maintain their jobs and are calling for a holistic vision for development.

"It's a developmental issue that has economic, social and cultural dimensions to it. When the level of informal economy reaches 25 to 60 percent, imagine the percentage of informal businesses in a squatter area?Aa The nature of work in the informal sector is associated with this mode of living. We cannot develop the area without trying to convince people and come up with, not only alternative housing, but also other job opportunities," Saleh said.

Embaba suffers other major problems, according to Saleh. Around 130 families have been living in underground dens for more than 20 years now, without sanitation and in an extremely humid climate. Those living in the squatter area known as El Gezira also live in miserable conditions and need development projects.

Saleh added that the entire area of Embaba lacks basic services: schools are in two shifts; child density in classroom reaches 60 students; there is only one hospital to serve approximately one million citizens; and there are only two youth centers, one of which was partly taken over by a private school.

"Those [underprivileged] people are not part of the development project,"

Saleh said, arguing that the aim behind the project is to serve the interest of investors who want to build high-rises overlooking the Nile from Kitkat to Warrak.

"This explains all the secrecy," he said. Around 180 Embaba residents have authorized the Committee to defend them and file a law suit on their behalf, according to lawyer Mohamed Ezz Eldin.Aa

The Committee encourages people to demand their rights and form organizational structures that reflect their own needs and interests peacefully and without causing chaos, the coordinator said.

"The problem of political life in Egypt is in the organizational vacuum. People don't have access to institutions that express their needs. The existing channels are either restricted or are conspiring with the government," Saleh said.

Daily NewsEgypt 2007

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