MAKKAH: The Ministry of Rural and Municipal Affairs will this year implement development projects in the holy sites worth over SR1.4 billion, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported Wednesday, quoting Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar.
He said one project aims to connect Aziziyah district with Jamarat area via tunnels. Another will link the King's Road to Al-Sharaie district. "Other projects include the expansion and improvement of the western area of Jamarat," he said.
Al-Bar talked about these projects during the Meet the Official program, which the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been holding for Saudi businessmen since the beginning of this year.
The mayor revealed that a private company intended to use the mountain beds in Mina to accommodate pilgrims in permanent housing units. The company would present the proposal to Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Sunday.
He said the municipality plans to upgrade the level of cleanliness in the holy sites and will soon present this proposal to the minister of municipal and rural affairs for approval. "Once the plan is approved, we will immediately start its implementation," he said.
The plan stipulates the removal of all the stalls and eating places from the holy sites since model restaurants have been established to the east of Mina and to the west of Jamarat area.
Al-Bar said the level of cleanliness in Mina had been better last year than the previous year. It was difficult to keep Arafat clean because of crowding during day time when pilgrims stand there.
The mayor said the budget of the municipality increased immensely and more than SR1 billion were allotted for cleaning projects.
He denied accusations that the municipality was delaying the implementation of development projects in Makkah. A municipality committee convenes twice a week to follow up the implementation of these projects and to resolve any problems facing them.
The mayor said real estate investors had a right to compensation if the approved building height of the towers would later be reduced for any reason.
He said the municipality deemed that buildings close to the Grand Mosque should not be very tall, while those away from it could have any height.
© Arab News 2012
