TAIF — The potholes and depressions that form in many Taif streets where local authorities are carrying out water works are posing a hazard to residents and road users because these organizations do not return the roads to their original pristine state. The National Water Company (NWC) is constantly carrying out work but residents claimed it does not restore the area it worked on to its previous state. After the work is done, the street is usually uneven, especially if a minute amount of rain falls. Umm Assiba District residents and owners of adjacent businesses in particular suffer from this situation. They say the dug streets are not properly repaved and the result is more potholes that damage vehicles and collect water in front of shops. Water causes even more depressions in the asphalt, they said, adding that this could be avoided if the company responsible for the excavations ensures contractors who do the digging also repave the street properly. Umm Assiba residents say many of the district streets have been damaged and several locations inside residential areas where work was taking place have been left uncompleted. One resident said: “These companies have destroyed streets. “It is a waste of the efforts of the municipalities that built those streets only for companies to excavate them. “The situation in the district's inner streets and at the main access points is unbearable.” An official source at Taif Municipality said the problem is exacerbated by a lack of coordination between the municipality and utilities companies when projects are executed. The NWC's branch in Taif could not be contacted for a comment.
