Against the backdrop of the hectic construction activities in several parts of Riyadh thanks to the current economic boom in the Kingdom, some reckless activities have been taking place. For several months now, construction companies have been filling up a number of valleys and flood passages in the Dahiyat Laban district to build residential homes in the land. Despite the dangers of disrupting natural flood plains, the work is non-stop. Local residents in the district say they fear an imminent natural calamity as a result of the said activities. Residents of the neighboring areas also fear disastrous scenarios, in which most of their houses get submerged under water and swept by flash floods, according to a report in Al-Riyadh newspaper. The filling up of flood passages with soil has already been completed to make the land ready for selling and building new residential neighborhoods. The leveled plots of land pose a grave danger for those who want to build residential units there in future — especially when it rains and flash floods occur. One of the flood passages which was filled using heaps of sand has now become a pool of stagnant water. The site has turned into a swamp full of harmful plants and flies, emitting odor. One particular flood passage over 20 meters deep was filled with soil and turned into land in Wadi Laban. At another site near the commercial street, another old flood route has been leveled to build homes. A Saudi company which was awarded the project to fill up the valley did so overnight. Trucks were seen competing with each other in unloading stone and soil from construction sites. They do no pressing of the soil after unloading, giving rise to the possibility for the land to shift when it rains, creating dangerous holes. A new investment site, located near the intersection of Taif Street and the new western ring road, has also turned into a dangerous lake of rainwater that came from nearby mountain passes. Another company is filling up another area that is 70 meters deep in the direction of Wadi Laban. After several months of work, the company has been successful in expanding the filling to further parts of the flood valley. The filling is ongoing with the help of a number of truck owners. Apart from filling up the valleys and flood passages, the newly created district is posing another potential threat: There is no drainage network along the road that passes through the area. However, the flood passage in the main township is still intact.
