The issue of floods and rainwater drainage will come up for discussions at the Shoura (Consultative) Council soon. Muhammad Al-Quwayhis, chairman of the Facilities and Services Committee at the Shoura Council, on Friday expressed his discontent at the recurrence of the problem across the Kingdom. Two years ago, he said, he had asked the Shoura Council for a national strategy for draining of floods and rainwater. The Council even endorsed some drainage projects, he said. It was not difficult, he said, to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem. The Kingdom, he said, can draw from the system implemented in several countries where it rains far more than Saudi Arabia. The drainage problem was again in focus last week when rains lashed Jeddah and other cities. Water clogged on streets and still several roads are filled with water. Al-Quwayhis said the drainage issue will be a main subject during the Council discussions on the mayoralties and municipalities report soon. He alleged that drainage projects were improperly executed and cited the failure of a project undertaken in Makakh. – Okaz/SG __
