Jeddah, Jul 9(Arab News): The short-term flood-protection projects for Jeddah neighborhoods in the districts east of the Haramain Expressway are scheduled to be ready by February, an official said on Friday.
“All residential buildings in the project area in Al-Samer district and Umm Al-Khair have been demolished and the area is readied to begin the projects so that they will be commissioned as scheduled by the end of February 2012,” said Abdul Majeed Al-Batati, director general of the flood and rain water drainage projects.
Al-Batati was making a video presentation before the Flood and Rainwater Committee.
Jeddah's rainy season — the time of year when the chance for flash flooding is highest — runs roughly from November to February.
In normal circumstances awarding a contract would take months of studies and bureaucratic procedures. On the other hand, the contract for the present flood protection projects was awarded in a matter of days.
“We received bids from contractors on May 10. We had disqualified companies that were not willing to undertake work around the clock because of the urgency of completing the project before the rainy season. On May 11, we selected the most qualified company for the project with the help of Saudi Aramco. Shortly Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras and Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal approved the selection. The contract was signed on May 15,” Al-Batati said.
The project includes the construction of rainwater canals across Al-Samer as demarcated by the Saudi Geological Survey and another canal and a reservoir with a capacity to contain 2.3 million cubic meters in the Umm Al-Khair neighborhood. The canal leading to the tank will be 780 meters long, 30 meters side and 3.5 meters deep.
He said objections to the demolition of houses were overcome in a short time with the help of the mayor.
“People are cooperative because they are looking forward to the long-term benefits of the project,” he said.
In the meeting, members of the Municipal Council demanded that steps be taken to prevent floods in all the most vulnerable locations before the onset of the next rainy season.