MAKKAH — The municipality in Makkah has started carrying out its post-season cleaning operation plan in the holy sites that aims to keep the environment clean after the end of the Haj season. The municipality will collect and dispose of garbage as soon as possible. The cleaning works will continue until Oct. 13 (end of Dhul Hijjah). Deputy Mayor Abdulsalam Sulaiman Mashat said the municipality will exert all efforts to complete cleaning of the holy sites – Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat – before Oct. 13. He added that the municipality is using many new methods using the latest equipment and machinery. These will contribute to raising the standard of cleanliness and providing the pilgrims with a healthy atmosphere. Muhammad Abdulrahman Al-Mouriqi, director general of cleanliness, said the plan will be carried out in stages. He said that the volume of garbage is on the increase compared to the previous years. During the first half of Dhul Hijjah, the quantity reached 76,311 ton, with a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year. He expects the increase to reach 15 percent until the end of Dhul Hijjah.
