QUNFUDAH – The lack of a sewage network and rainwater drainage system in Qunfudah has been causing lots of problems for its residents and there were calls to assign the private sector to build and operate the sewage system. Recent rain inundated the university college and schools in Qunfudah, closed its roads and streets and left swamps all over the city. Swamps appear in eastern and southern district of Shamiya and Khalediya as well as downtown Qunfudah, causing environmental pollution and spreading infectious diseases. Former Municipal Council member Saeed Ahmed Basandoura said the lack of a sewage network has overshadowed the progress achieved by Qunfudah. "Absence of a sewage network has affected other development projects in the city," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He said the surfacing of sewage has destroyed roads and spread infectious diseases that have eaten away the Health Ministry budget. "The authorities have been repeating their promises to establish a sewage network for several years but they have not translated their words into action. We can establish a specialized company to build the sewage system and impose an establishment fee in addition to monthly charges from the beneficiaries. The fees should be fixed by the government. The company should extend quality services at a reasonable price," he explained. Mohammed Ali Abujanab, also a former municipal council member, emphasized the need to solve Qunfudah's sewage problem as quickly as possible. "A large number of swamps and lakes appear throughout Qunfudah whenever it rains. Moreover sewage surfaces near homes and government offices spreading bad odor and producing flies and mosquitoes," he added. Wael Babaidhan, the district chief of Qunfudah, asked the authorities to explain the reasons for the long delay in implementing the sewage project in the city, which is essential for the protection of its environment and safeguard the health of its residents. Abdu Banan, former deputy chairman of the municipal council, said groundwater has risen to dangerous levels in Qunfudah due to the absence of a proper drainage system. "This situation is threatening the environment and life of citizens," he said while urging the authorities to implement the sewage project without further delay. "We are fed up with promises from the authorities and we want to see action," he added.
