A whopping SR28 billion – out of the SR40 billion allocated for the purpose – has already been paid to owners of the acquired properties near the Grand Mosque here. Abbas Qattan, Chairman of the Committee for Development of the Northern Courtyards of the Grand Mosque, was quoted by Al-Watan Arabic daily as saying that the 2,300 properties have been acquired so far for the northern courtyards of the Holy Haram, and three tunnels projects leading to the northern courtyards and the central services station. These properties, Qattan said, were acquired after a thorough study by the Real Estate Estimation and Expropriation Committee. Of the 2,300 acquired properties, 2,120 have been handed over by their owners out of which 2,054 properties have been demolished so far. Qattan said compensation has been paid to the owners of properties who have completed all the relevant procedures. Qattan said some of the expropriated properties are endowments belonging to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance besides endowments belonging to the citizens. He said the properties that have been demarcated within the project zone have been divided into stages so as to expedite the demolition work and complete the procedures for compensation. In the first stage 1,003 properties were specified after dividing the areas into six zones. Qattan said this division has facilitated the task of the committee in estimating the properties speedily. Also, the committee has taken delivery of 999 properties while 997 others were demolished. Qattan said the stage complementary to the first stage included 147 properties divided into six zones. Out of these, 146 properties have been demolished and only one remains to be razed. He said the second stage 384 properties divided into eight zones. Out of these, 262 properties have been demolished. The official added that 531 properties have been expropriated in favor of the underground tunnels leading to the northern courtyards from Jarwal-Al Beeban and from Al-Hujoon. Till now the committee has taken delivery of 360 properties while 325 properties were demolished. Qattan said 235 properties have been expropriated for the central services station and the committee has taken delivery of 231 properties. He pointed out that the demolition works are continuing as scheduled and demolition of all the expropriated properties would be completed soon.
