JEDDAH – The project for the drainage of rain and floodwater in Jeddah governorate is continuing in coordination with related government and services authorities, said Ahmad Al-Sulaim, Director General of the Rainwater Treatment and Floodwater Drainage Treatment Projects. Earlier this year, four Saudi and international companies were awarded contracts worth SR3.33 billion to implement permanent flood and rainwater drainage projects in Jeddah. Eight projects including the construction of five dams and the expansion of the existing storm water canals in northern, southern and eastern Jeddah besides the construction of a new canal adjacent to King Abdulaziz International Airport are underway for the drainage of rain and floodwater. The contract for the construction of Wadi Qiyah, Wadi Umm Hablain, Wadi Daghbaj and Wadi Braiman dams has been awarded to NESMA & Partners Company at a total cost of SR803 million. The company has also been awarded contracts for the construction of Wadi Ghulail Dam and the rehabilitation of the course of the southern floodwater canal at a value of SR372 million. Tashina Communications Construction Company of China was awarded a SR143 million contract for the rehabilitation of the northern flood canal course. The contract for the construction of the new airport storm water canal has been awarded to Saudi Arabian Sanmbir and GT Company Ltd. of Italy at a total cost of SR1.31 billion and another contract has been awarded to TransArabia for Trading, Industry and Contracting (SEBC) at a total cost of SR751 million. Thirteen local and international companies were vying for contracts to implement the projects, which include the construction of six dams, expansion of existing rainwater drainage canals, and construction of a new canal. The Jeddah Municipality invited bids from qualified local and international contractors for the projects on Jan. 4. Al-Sulaim said that the government and services authorities and the Project Administration, which is an affiliate of Makkah governorate, are jointly working on the project. The collective efforts earlier resulted in the successful implementation of “quick-solution projects” in east Jeddah for the quick drainage of rainwater. The municipality completed the projects within a record time of 110 days. He said a number of workshops were organized highlighting the project work. Some 21 government and services authorities participated in these workshops including Jeddah Mayoralty, Traffic Department, Saudi Geological Survey, Presidency of Meteorology and the Environment, Customs Department, Ports Administration, National Water Company, Civil Defense and the ministries of Interior, Finance and Transport. Jeddah was hit by torrential rains and devastating floods in November 2009 and in January 2011 that killed more than 130 people in total and destroyed thousands of homes and cars.
