An aerial map showing projects to save the districts in east Jeddah from flash floods. – Okaz photo Abdul Rahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Flood Prevention, will sign here on Monday a new contract to save from flash floods east Jeddah areas, which extend from Al-Khomra in the south to Kerah Valley in the north. The contract marks the final phase for the projects for urgent solutions to flash floods, according to Ahmad Al-Saleem, Director of Rainwater and Flood Drainage Project for Jeddah.
He said the projects that will be implemented in the next few months aim to set up an elaborate drainage system. The projects will be completed by the end of 2014, he added. New drainage canals will be constructed in Al-Khomra Valley and some other unprotected valleys in east Jeddah in addition to building efficient drainage canals west of Al-Haramain Road and in Kerah and Mareekh valleys. Some 12 national and international companies have won bids to implement the projects, Al-Saleem said. Jeddah rainwater and flood drainage projects consisted of two phases: The first phase was completed in four months and comprised 12 projects that focused on the areas hard-hit by rains. A seven-meter-high dam was built and linked with a 730-meter-long canal during the first phase. Al-Samer Dam was reinforced and linked with a 3,000-meter-long canal. A crisis management center was set up in the headquarters of Emir's Office in Jeddah while 16 emergency centers were established in different places to respond to emergency cases in Jeddah neighborhoods. Al-Saleem said the projects in the second phase were completed in 10 months and consisted of five main dams with a capacity of 24 million cubic meters, 20-kilometer-long flood drainage canals, seven supporting dams in addition to expanding current drainage canals east, south, and north of Jeddah. He said the plan for the general design for rainwater drainage for Jeddah City will be completed soon and this will mark the final phase of the projects. Jeddah Mayoralty is providing maintenance and cleaning services to existing rainwater drainage network, he added.
