Land Planning
We went down the road by car, on 1000 km from North to South over a large part of desertic country. We noticed a few interesting things on our way, considering the land planning in Oman, which follows really a different way than in the others Emirates. Sultan Qabus ibn Said considers that stability in his country is very much reliant on the wealth redistribution.
And we saw this redistribution being very clear on our way. Sultan has impulsed major projects, routes, highways, dwells, etc... ; blue trucks come to take drinking water for free. People just have to help themselves to get it ! In the rias, on a totally desertic land, there are fishermen villages that need waters, electricity is produced right there and children are going at school in the neighbouring villages : everything is paid by the state to allow the population to keep living on their traditionnal activity : fishing.
These major projects are carefully conducted. Mechanised engines help to crush the mountain, flowing bitumen, etc... But has it is a really hot country, where there is a real gully, the work is handmade on both sides of the road. Labor works all day under 45° celsius... They are mostly Pakistanese, Bengali, Indians and, more precisely Indians from the state of Kerala. They are employed in services and construction sector. As there is no typical gastronomy in Oman, we eat indian or pakistanese food, which is very tasty. These restaurants can provide alcohol, which is illegal elsewhere. They are signalled by a small red light, which led to some confusion...
We went down the road by car, on 1000 km from North to South over a large part of desertic country. We noticed a few interesting things on our way, considering the land planning in Oman, which follows really a different way than in the others Emirates. Sultan Qabus ibn Said considers that stability in his country is very much reliant on the wealth redistribution.
And we saw this redistribution being very clear on our way. Sultan has impulsed major projects, routes, highways, dwells, etc... ; blue trucks come to take drinking water for free. People just have to help themselves to get it ! In the rias, on a totally desertic land, there are fishermen villages that need waters, electricity is produced right there and children are going at school in the neighbouring villages : everything is paid by the state to allow the population to keep living on their traditionnal activity : fishing.
These major projects are carefully conducted. Mechanised engines help to crush the mountain, flowing bitumen, etc... But has it is a really hot country, where there is a real gully, the work is handmade on both sides of the road. Labor works all day under 45° celsius... They are mostly Pakistanese, Bengali, Indians and, more precisely Indians from the state of Kerala. They are employed in services and construction sector. As there is no typical gastronomy in Oman, we eat indian or pakistanese food, which is very tasty. These restaurants can provide alcohol, which is illegal elsewhere. They are signalled by a small red light, which led to some confusion...
Sultan visits his populations with all his government, being nomadic during 1 month, and installing is tent for 24 to 48 hours in order to speak with the people. Like this he knows the situation in the whole country.
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Cartothèque de l'Université Paris 8
