Al-Dhiyabi Okaz/Saudi Gazette TAIF — Residents of Hawiya, a resort city north of Taif, have expressed fears that the sheep and fodder market in the area would create an environmental catastrophe. The market in Hawiya existed there for the past half a century and the Taif Municipality has not taken any step to shift the market to a place away from residential districts, although residents were demanding it for more than 20 years. Hawiya has witnessed remarkable demographic changes in the past two decades with the emergence of five new residential districts — Sultana, Jowhara, Ajwad, Buqami and Mumathila. Dumping of dead sheep and animal waste has been threatening the environment and spreading infectious diseases, residents say. Fahd Al-Quthami said the sheep market in Nadba has tarnished the image of Hawiya, an enchanting tourist center. "Lots of developments have taken place in the area but without touching the barns that spread a nasty order and offer an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. "Hawiya has now become a sheep market run by illegal foreign workers who do not care about its negative impact on the environment. They use private generators for electricity," he said. Sultan Al-Rouqi said the municipality had cheated them by not keeping its promise to shift the sheep market to another place. "People find it difficult to live near the market because of the odor and increasing number of mosquitoes and flies." He said residents had never expected the municipality would not shoulder its responsibility toward them. "We have spent millions of riyals to construct homes and other buildings in Hawiya with the hope that the sheep market would be shifted to another place but the municipality has cheated us." Al-Rouqi said the problems caused by the market are increasing day by day and people have to keep their doors and windows closed all the time. Turki Al-Odwani said the dumping of waste in the area was another major problem facing the residents. "People living in far off districts throw their garbage near the sheep market. By the passage of time it will become a huge dumpsite," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He hoped the municipality would move quickly to shift the market to another place. Mohammed Al-Zahrani feared the sheep market would create an environmental catastrophe in the area as traders throw dead sheep and leftovers in the area, making it a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects. He hoped the mayoralty would fulfill its promise by shifting the market to another place as quickly as possible. "We have been hearing this promise for the past 20 years. There are many alternative places to which the municipality can move the market." Okaz/Saudi Gazette contacted Ismail Ibrahim, spokesman for Taif Municipality, for his reactions to the concerns of Hawiya residents. He said the municipality has taken steps to shift the market to a new place. "We are now working on the project," he added.
