Salmia, Al-Salam and Al-Ain districts in east Jeddah accuse the Municipal Council of ignoring their complaints of air pollution caused by ready-mix concrete factories and quarries in their area. They say the pollution has turned their lives to a nightmare of chest diseases and allergies. In addition, they say heavily laden ready-mix concrete trucks from the factories have caused parts of the streets in the residential areas to cave in, making them impossible for use by smaller vehicles. The complaints were raised in a letter to Dr. Tariq Fad'aq, chairman of Jeddah Municipal Council. In it, the residents criticized the municipality's negligence and heedlessness in dealing with their complaints. The letter was sent by Saudi national Hamdan Al-Zahrani on behalf of the residents of the districts east of the highway. It noted that the complaints had been raised in a previous meeting between the residents and Dr. Fad'aq. Several ready-mix concrete and block factories fringe the northern, eastern and southern parts of these residential districts and some of them are now located inside the districts. The residents claim that 70 percent of these factories are operating without permits from the mayoralty. Bassam Akhdhar, a member of the municipal council, told Al-Madina Arabic daily that the council would look into the matter and it was regrettable that the council has not met to discuss the residents' problems. Dr. Fad'aq said the complaints were not being neglected. Contradicting Akhdhar's statement, he said the complaints had indeed been tabled for discussion and an urgent committee of the council and mayoralty had been formed to study and verify the matter. This committee would prepare a detailed report and refer it to the council, Dr. Fad'aq said, clarifying that the committee is still on the job.
