The Misfala neighborhood, located just 500 meters away from the Grand Mosque, is one of the disorganized districts in Makkah. It hosts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during peak Haj and Umrah seasons, making it one of the busiest districts of the holy city. Saudi residents have complained that the local municipality was not doing enough to prevent the expansion of slums in the district, obstructing development work. Illegal vendors, groceries, kitchens and restaurants dotting the narrow alleyways give a bad image of the district. Abdullah Saad Al-Quthami, a resident, urged the municipality to address the myriad problems people of the district face. He wanted the municipality to close all illegal restaurants, groceries and fish stalls in Nakasa and Jabal Al-Sharashif. "We look forward to the overall development of the district as part of the comprehensive Makkah development project," he said while urging the authorities to pay compensation to citizens before acquiring their properties to implement the development plans. Abdullah Al-Kharashi called for quick action to halt the aggressive growth of slums in the district. He said people should not be allowed to build makeshift homes in the area. "We have been warning authorities against the rapid expansion of slums over the last three decades but to no avail," he said. "We face long delays in obtaining licenses from the municipality for construction of buildings and opening shops," said another Saudi, who requested anonymity. Ghazi Al-Harbi, chairman of the Misfala branch municipality, stressed his department's desire to extend quick services to citizens and residents but he attributed the delay in processing paperwork to work overload. "Sometimes, our staff will be out in the field carrying out inspection raids," he said. He emphasized efforts to expedite paperwork to issue licenses for new buildings and shops. "We also issue professional and technical licenses, monitor markets and ensure cleanliness of the city and address citizens' complaints and suggestions without delay," he said. The Misfala municipality supervises some 3,000 commercial shops in the central area of Makkah. The municipality's jurisdiction begins from the second flyover on Ibrahim Khalil Street. Referring to the development project, Al-Harbi said: "We have got instructions not to issue new construction licenses in Jabal Al-Sharashif, Kudwa and Mansour Street." He said the municipality was conducting joint campaigns with police and the intelligence service to remove slums in various parts of the district, including Housh Bakr. "We have informed the emir that the municipality cannot deal with the issue alone," Al-Harbi said. A special committee comprising representatives from relevant agencies including the passport department, police and special force has been set up on the emir's directive to deal with slums in Housh Bakr. "The committee conducts daily raids," the chairman said, adding that the committee successfully removed 40 percent of slums in Housh Bakr. He said the municipality issued licenses for shops as soon as the Civil Defense approval was obtained. "The delay occurs when applicants fail to produce necessary documents, including Civil Defense approval," Al-Harbi said. The chairman said the municipality faced a severe shortage of staff. He proposed the formation of a police force for municipalities to support field inspectors and deal with encroachers. "Illegal kitchens during the Haj season needs to be addressed through a coordinated campaign by the Ministry of Haj, the municipality and Tawafa organizations," Al-Harbi said. Every pilgrim contingent should be allowed to make necessary arrangements to prepare food suitable for them, he added.
