CMC briefed on urban development planning

Qatar’scomprehensive urban development plan takes into considerationpopulation growth and development in all fields within the next 20years, Turki Fahd al-Turki, assistant director of the Urban PlanningDepartment at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), saidyesterday.The Central Municipal Council (CMC) hosted a number ofUrban Planning Department officials at its bi-weekly regular sessionyesterday to brief the council members on the main features of thecountry’s urban planning.Al-Turki explained that the plan is basedon making urban centres in the country in accordance with the nationalidentity to create a model of sustainable development.The planentails creating a green belt around every city, the distribution ofland plots in a phased manner, and providing various community servicessuch as health, education, culture centres, parks, shopping centres, andother services to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants ofthe country.Dr Hossam Ibrahim, an urban planning expert, spoke aboutthe main features of the plan, stressing that it has been constantlyupdated to keep up with the development in reality.He said that plan includes:* industrial areas of more than 40mn square metres* three economic zones of more than 30mn square metres* eight supply and storage areas of 10mn square metres* three logistic areas of 14.9mn square metres* two agriculture complexes 35 square km* central and livestock markets* service areas for the Ministry of Transport and Communication, such as bus and taxi stops* service centres of the Ministry of Interior* educational services, which include 72 government schools, 40 privateschools, 21 kindergartens, and new sites for the community college; and* labour accommodation with seven permanent sites and 17 temporary ones.Ibrahim also said that there are detailed planning standards and conditions, and a comprehensive survey.Thereis also a comprehensive plan to manage all the coastal areas of thecountry and a clear strategy to deal with potential climate changes.Thecouncil also discussed the regulation of residences in the outskirts ofthe country and called for more flexible standards and procedures inorder to allow the home owners to continue living there instead ofhaving to relocate to the cities.Further, the council issued recommendations based on the complaints regarding winter camping issues.Thecouncil told the MME officials that the distance between camping areasand residential areas should be between at least 1km to 2km, and thatthe ministry should study the possibility of designating family campingareas and others for young people.The council also said that more awareness programmes on safety during camping should be promoted among campers.