Population Redistribution to Achieve Balanced Regional Sustainable Development in Upper Egypt (2006-2027)

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to present practical solutions for the problem of building (and demolition) on agricultural lands in Upper Egypt; shortage of available lands for urban expansion; limiting slum areas at cities margins and random building in rural areas; creating new communities that achieve sustainable regional development; and redistribution of population and labor force in Upper Egypt. The study depends on population census data of 2006 for future estimates. The study adopts the descriptive analytical approach. The main results were as follows: - The problem of building (and demolition) on agricultural lands in Egypt represents a matter of life or death for the Egyptians. - The present pattern of random housing in cities and villages is neither sustainable nor balanced. - The traditional Egyptian villages must be re-planned without allowing for rebuilding old houses. - It is imperative to look for new locations to establish new communities to absorb the population increase and satisfy housing needs. The most important recommendations were as follows: - Preventing building in old cities, especially at the margins close to agricultural lands. - Preventing building on agricultural lands for any reason. - Establishing new twin cities (and villages) at the western desert highway, from Giza to Aswan. - Adopting the desert housing pattern (Hassan Fatehy engineering) to reduce costs and materials consumption. - Relocating specific governmental agencies from old to new communities. - Relocating boys secondary schools from old to new communities. - Utilizing the evacuated buildings of secondary schools to decrease densities of primary and preparatory schools in old communities. - Adoption of new and renewable energy sources, such as solar energy and biogas. - Establishing factories for wastes re-cycling at suitable sites in new communities. - Declaring a clear-cut stand as for no conciliation with building on agricultural lands, and imposing severe penalties up to land confiscation.