The Qatif Municipality is planning to introduce a network for rainwater drainage and to lower the water table at a cost of SR200 million. Municipal Council Chairman Ja'far Al-Shayeb said that the plans were discussed at a recent council meeting, and noted that the current system copes only with around 10 percent of the region's needs. “The meeting looked at a range of issues related to the flooding of streets and pile-ups of earth and sand, as well as the continual street light blackouts, and urged that construction companies and developers be made to rectify the problems as soon as possible,” Al-Shayeb said. The meeting also led to approval for the training of municipal officials conducted by Qatif's Technical College, plans to renovate Tarout Fort with the collaboration of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, renovation work on the fort's surrounding old area of town, and work on the ancient springs and the Thursday market area.
