The conference on Sustainable Urbanisation in Oman which began at the Al Bustan Palace on Monday, is focusing on the challenges urban areas face and the pressure rapid urbanisation is putting on natural resources.
The two-day conference, held under the patronage of Muscat Municipality, the Ministry of Housing and the Supreme Committee for Town Planning, seeks to address regional and international issues through comprehensive and sustainable urban growth planning.
Dr Mehdi Ahmed Jaaffar, vice-president, Environment Society Oman (ESO) said, "There is a need for urban development in most parts of the world including Oman. However, such development puts pressure on natural resources and here lies the challenge."
Dr Lotfy Azaz, associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning, geography department, College of Arts and Social Sciences, SQU said, "Compactness, completeness, comfort and collaboration are some of the agendas that must be kept in the mind while building a city. There must be a good relationship with the environment for a city to develop."
Nassib Abou Saab, deputy secretary-general of Intergovernmental Renewal Energy Organisation said, "An ideal sustainable urban city must work in close cooperation with different people and sectors. There must be a good relation between major sectors like water, electricity and gas."
Ahmed bin Saleh Baabood, executive chairman of Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE) said the event will study the impact of sustainable urbanisation on societies and economies of developing nations.
In his speech Eng Khalid Mohammed Omar Buhram, assistant chairman, Muscat Municipality pointed out that the aim of decision makers and urban planners was sustainable urbanisation or sustainable development. Reaching this goal needed patience, persistence and clarity of vision, he said.
A panel discussion covered the challenges of 21st century urbanisation and ways to attain greater productivity and improving the living standards through basic infrastructure, planning for the poor and addressing issues like high cost of housing, inefficient public transport, security and unemployment among others.
Architects, planning consultants, developers, engineers and designers from across the world are attending the meet.
© Muscat Daily 2011
