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By Meron Tekleberhan
Littering and the significant problem in properly disposing of trash has been a long-standing problem that has not been helped by the huge growth in population and geographic size experienced by the city in the past decade. Various mechanisms to handle garbage disposal including the large trash tanks in different parts of the city seem to be of little help in controlling the unseemly and discouraging heaps of trash in all neighborhoods. The City Administration while attempting to combat the issue by putting garbage collection under its management seems unable to get a handle on the issue.
“Four years ago when I moved in the Ayat area there was a private garbage collection service that made the rounds every week for a reasonable monthly fee of 30 birr. Recently, however the city administration claimed to have taken over garbage collection for a minimal service charge with the water bill but the services are intermittent at best. The large garbage containers put in place by the administration are small garbage dumps and the whole area is covered by plastic trash bags that have floated away from the area and settled on the ground like so much colored foliage” explained Ato Leakew, resident of Ayat village.
The state of the area around the garbage dump and the general silence in allowing it to remain in that condition shows that there is a reluctance to take a responsibility for the problem by all concerned parties including the district administration and the community.
“It would only need someone from the administration to organize the people in the community to take charge of the problem and involve everyone to resolve the issue. It can’t be done with any one party as the community lacks the authority to maintain any real effort and its obvious the government lacks the resources’ explained Ato Leakew.
Another growing concern in Addis Ababa and other quickly industrializing parts of Ethiopia is air pollution. In Addis the smell of diesel and other malodorous by products of various activities is almost seen as one of the identifying characteristics of the city. It takes an outsider coming to the city for the first time or after some time away to notice the air pollution.
It is inarguable that air pollution has various side effects including exposing citizens to various respiratory diseases as well as reducing the general quality of life within the city. More serious is when the polluting chemicals have immediate health consequences as has been alleged has been the case with some industries. The consequences of industrial pollution can also extend to another type of pollution that of the water table although it’s unclear to what extent this is an issue in our context so far.
Water pollution has been more a problem in relation to the poor and inadequate sewage system says Abebe.
“The sewage system is no were near to being able to support the number of households currently making demands and in many parts new construction ignorant of the old systems can very easily damage pipelines affecting the drinking water supply in the area” he said.
The problem with sewage seeping into drinking water has transpired in different parts of the city at different times although it is hoped that better and well planned sewage systems will eventually eliminate the problem he noted.
Last but not least we come to the problem of noise pollution. The amount of noise in the city which may seem like nothing more than background noise for many living in Addis has nonetheless been recognized as a health hazard by international standards.
Most critics have perceived the most notable issue to be the seeming competition amongst various faith institutions to make the loudest noise in the area. Churches and Mosques located in the midst of residential areas seem to have no compulsion with broadcasting their early morning services via loudspeakers.
“It is odd that there is a sort of competition going on amongst different faiths in most neighborhoods. The calls for prayer from neighborhood mosques, the liturgical services of the Orthodox Church and the loud services of the evangelical believers all seem to neglect the rights of other people in the neighborhood” said W/zo Mimi.
Government authorities should step in to ascertain that noise levels are not above the legal limits for residential areas as is clearly established in the legal code said Mimi who thinks it’s is a real frustration for people who are living in close proximity to such institutions in spite of faith.
Equally guilty of contributing to the noise pollution is the unceasing honking of vehicles that seems to almost be part of the traffic regulations and the confusing mix of residential and industrial areas in the city add to the noise level in the city night or day.
“The lack of planning in the city and the absence of strictly enforced zoning regulations also means that various loud businesses like music shops and nightclubs are allowed to set up shop in the midst of residential neighborhoods. In my neighborhood for example a family decided to rent out their home to a bar and restaurant effectively destroying the peaceful existence of several family homes in the area” said W/zo Mimi.
The issue of pollution whatever form it takes should be one that should be in the forefront of the agenda to develop the city of Addis. Growth in Addis Ababa should include the mechanisms to address existing problems with garbage disposal, sewage system and means to control air and noise pollution to ensure that the problems mentioned above are eliminated as part of the efforts at development.
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Meron Tekleberhan is Addis Ababa based reporter for Ezega.com. She can be reached by sending email through this form.
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