| 30 Aug 2010 |
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Plot owners plan to sue Jeddah municipality
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JEDDAH: Property owners in East Jeddah have threatened to sue the municipality for cutting off their power supply for the last nine months, causing them severe losses.
They said they planned to pursue legal action through the Court of Grievances after the local authority stopped supplying electricity to the plots. Power was restored two weeks ago.
The owners claim the situation forced them to stop construction work or sell their properties. They also allege that the municipality has ordered the notary office not to allow them to sell the land for a certain period.
No part of the land came near the natural floodwater drainage route where the municipality had banned construction.
"The reason for stopping utility services to the location is apparently a dispute between the municipality and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs with regard to how high we can construct. While the municipality allowed buildings to be seven stories high, the ministry only wanted them to be two stories high," one property owner said.
It emerged that the municipality had earlier issued permits allowing for the construction of five stories, in addition to a two-story high villa on top of the building.
However, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs changed the restrictions for development on the land and ordered the municipality to ensure buildings were no higher than two stories. The situation left property owners in limbo.
"We wondered why we were denied our right to build in our land that we legally own. The authorities behave as though we have grabbed the government land and constructing there illegally," the property owner added.
"Now we have decided to complain to the Court of Grievances to ensure the municipality compensates us for our losses because of the mistakes committed by its officials."
Another affected landowner said they should not be the ones to suffer for the errors of the municipality or any other government department when the permits were issued.
There are more than 600 plots affected by the dispute. It was also alleged some of the property owners had to wait 16 years to obtain a real estate loan to buy a piece of land there.
By MD AL-SULAMI
© Arab News 2010
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