Title: Use Control of Lands Overlooking River Nile in Egyptian Cities: A Case Study on Sohag City.
Researcher: Dr. Fatma Othman Mohamed Othman, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University (Second International Conference on Great Rivers: Attraction Places for Civilization, South Valley Development Research Studies Center, Assiut University October 12-14th , 2003).
Abstract
Use control of riparian lands and their good management are of the goals which urban planners and researchers aspire to achieve in order to develop cities. There is a bad need to study the significant priorities for dealing with river side and its components inside city to ensure the protection of this unique natural resource, and make the maximum benefit to the city and its inhabitants from the city site, and its unique position. In Egypt, the number of urban communities overlooking Nile River is 69 major and intermediate cities, representing half of the total number of Egyptian cities. Out of eleven cities in Sohag governorate, there are six cities overlooking Nile River. Here lies the importance of dealing with the lands overlooking Nile River to protect them and to achieve the maximum benefit from them. Here lies the important role of urban planner and designer who should take care in dealing with natural environment requirements and available economic potentialities. This role is not confined to architects and urban planners, but it extends to include state administrative bodies with different significant levels, and the community potentialities in the city, which may have a role in the management of riparian lands. For their members are eager to enjoy the natural environment of the river adjacent to their city, and to interact with it to escape from city bustle.
Riparian lands are considered the most precious targeted ones by city developers. Thus, it is important to deal with and manage these lands carefully to make the best use of their advantages and to ensure neither to pollute environment nor to waste its natural resources. It appears that land use control is reflected on the visual image of the city. For building faces overlooking river represents a panoramic image of the city seen by pedestrians in the the Corniche road and the viewers on the other bank of the river as well as tourists in tourist boats and yachts. It may become an attraction factor for promoting tourism in the developed city to reflect its unique character.
This paper aims to:
(1) Shed light on the problems of the use of riparian lands in Egyptian cities and to attract attention to develop River Nile and its different sectors inside cities within the system of comprehensive development in Egyptian cities using Sohag city in South Valley as an example of such problems.
(2) Investigate the possibility of the use and functioning planning, design and environmental programs for developing the city as a beginning to have balance in using riparian lands and identify use priorities and the rejected uses,
(3) Refer to the different roles of the associations, societies, specialists and individuals, which can contribute to solving the problems of use of riparian lands and the possibility of encouraging these roles in addition to the official role of the state and its institutions.
Key Words: Land Use Control- Nile river- Sohag City )