The Cons of Corridor Development (Overshadowed by its Pros) - የኮሪደር ልማት አሉታዊ (መጥፎ) ገጽታዎች።
Particularly, in ill-planned, hasty and politically motivated environment, a country invested in funding war or is at war.
Displacement and Social Disruptions:
Construction and expansion activities can lead to the displacement of residents, causing social and economic disruptions.
Environmental Impact: Increased construction and development can have negative environmental consequences, including pollution, habitat loss, and ecosystem degradation.
Inequality and Uneven Distribution of Benefits:
The benefits of corridor development may not be evenly distributed, potentially exacerbating social and economic inequalities.
Negative Impacts on Biodiversity:
Corridors can increase the risk of parasitism and disease, and can facilitate the dispersal of invasive species.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Benefits: Short-term economic benefits of development projects may overshadow the long-term economic benefits of transportation improvements.
Re: The Cons of Corridor Development (Overshadowed by its Pros) - የኮሪደር ልማት አሉታዊ (መጥፎ) ገጽታዎች።
Typical cases where Corridor Development resulted in negative outcomes
I) Balochistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
1. Marginalization of Local Communities
Lack of Local Participation: Many local residents, especially in Balochistan, feel excluded from the planning and benefits of the projects. Decisions were often made at the federal or international level without adequate local consultation.
Inequitable Distribution of Benefits: Most of the economic benefits (like energy and infrastructure development) are concentrated in other provinces such as Punjab and Sindh, leading to perceptions of exploitation in Balochistan.
2. Security and Militancy
The corridor has fueled resentment among local nationalist groups, who perceive it as a means of resource extraction rather than development.
There has been a rise in attacks on Chinese nationals and infrastructure, making the region volatile and dangerous.
3. Environmental and Social Displacement
The Gwadar port and associated infrastructure projects led to displacement of local fishing communities and degradation of marine ecosystems.
Water scarcity and pollution have become issues, as large-scale construction disrupts local environments.
4. Debt Concerns
Pakistan has taken on substantial debt to finance CPEC projects. Critics argue that the repayment burden may outweigh the long-term economic benefits, contributing to Pakistan's wider debt crisis.
II)Maputo Development Corridor (South Africa–Mozambique)
1. Limited Local Economic Benefits in Mozambique
Most of the economic gains accrued to South African companies and elites.
Local communities in Mozambique, especially those along the corridor, reported little to no improvement in access to jobs, services, or infrastructure.
The corridor became more of a transit route than a development tool for poor rural areas.
2. Environmental and Social Disruption
Industrial and port developments led to land grabs, displacement of communities, and loss of livelihoods, especially for small-scale farmers and fisherfolk.
Environmental groups raised concerns over the destruction of coastal habitats and increased pollution due to industrial activity.
3. Governance and Corruption
The project suffered from lack of transparency, poor regulation, and allegations of corruption in procurement and land allocation.
Weak governance in Mozambique meant that social safeguards and environmental protections were often poorly enforced.
4. Inequality and Regional Disparities
Economic activity was highly concentrated around the port and transport nodes, widening inequality between urban and rural populations.
Promises of local development along the corridor route (e.g., feeder roads, local business development) were largely unmet.
I) Balochistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
1. Marginalization of Local Communities
Lack of Local Participation: Many local residents, especially in Balochistan, feel excluded from the planning and benefits of the projects. Decisions were often made at the federal or international level without adequate local consultation.
Inequitable Distribution of Benefits: Most of the economic benefits (like energy and infrastructure development) are concentrated in other provinces such as Punjab and Sindh, leading to perceptions of exploitation in Balochistan.
2. Security and Militancy
The corridor has fueled resentment among local nationalist groups, who perceive it as a means of resource extraction rather than development.
There has been a rise in attacks on Chinese nationals and infrastructure, making the region volatile and dangerous.
3. Environmental and Social Displacement
The Gwadar port and associated infrastructure projects led to displacement of local fishing communities and degradation of marine ecosystems.
Water scarcity and pollution have become issues, as large-scale construction disrupts local environments.
4. Debt Concerns
Pakistan has taken on substantial debt to finance CPEC projects. Critics argue that the repayment burden may outweigh the long-term economic benefits, contributing to Pakistan's wider debt crisis.
II)Maputo Development Corridor (South Africa–Mozambique)
1. Limited Local Economic Benefits in Mozambique
Most of the economic gains accrued to South African companies and elites.
Local communities in Mozambique, especially those along the corridor, reported little to no improvement in access to jobs, services, or infrastructure.
The corridor became more of a transit route than a development tool for poor rural areas.
2. Environmental and Social Disruption
Industrial and port developments led to land grabs, displacement of communities, and loss of livelihoods, especially for small-scale farmers and fisherfolk.
Environmental groups raised concerns over the destruction of coastal habitats and increased pollution due to industrial activity.
3. Governance and Corruption
The project suffered from lack of transparency, poor regulation, and allegations of corruption in procurement and land allocation.
Weak governance in Mozambique meant that social safeguards and environmental protections were often poorly enforced.
4. Inequality and Regional Disparities
Economic activity was highly concentrated around the port and transport nodes, widening inequality between urban and rural populations.
Promises of local development along the corridor route (e.g., feeder roads, local business development) were largely unmet.