Solution to Jeddah floods in 6 months

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS -
Major global firms invited to solve problem
JEDDAH: Major international companies have been invited to propose solutions for Jeddah’s recurring floods, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said Sunday. “Emergency solutions for the problem will be implemented within six months,” he added.

The companies vying for the massive project’s consultancy contract include Parsons, AICOM, CH2M Hill, CDM, Bechtel, Jacobs, MWH Global, URS Corporation and Tetra Tech. “The winner of the contract will be announced within three weeks,” the governor said.

“We have invited these companies to present their offers to become consultants to construct a state-of-the-art flood and rainwater drainage system and related infrastructure facilities in Jeddah,” he said following a meeting of the executive committee that was set up by the government to tackle the Jeddah floods. Prince Khaled highlighted the various important steps taken by his committee to solve the problem. “But this is not any easy task. We have to race against time to implement these emergency and long-term projects to protect Jeddah from floods,” he said.

Speaking about the emergency plans, the governor said the committee has decided to complete the northern canal and link it with the eastern canal. “We’ll build a canal from Al-Samir Dam to the central canal. We’ll also take steps to prevent leakages at Al-Samir Dam.”

The governor also disclosed plans to remove buildings that are constructed in the pathways of floodwaters in Al-Samir district. “We’ll expand the floodwater canal in Um Al-Khair and link it with the central canal. We’ll also speed up construction of the Eastern Road and a canal parallel to the road,” he explained.

Prince Khaled said the committee also discussed 10 points approved by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to confront emergency and crises situations in the region and instructed relevant agencies to start implementing the 10 points.

King Abdullah has given exceptional powers to the committee to conduct necessary studies and award contracts to tackle Jeddah floods as quickly as possible. The committee has identified emergency solutions that will be carried out in six months and long-term solutions to be implemented in three years.

More than 130 people died and thousands suffered huge losses in two floods that have taken Jeddah by surprise in the last 15 months. Soon after the second flood, King Abdullah set up a ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif to tackle the problem immediately.

The king also ordered punitive action against negligent officials.