MAKKAH — Ghazala has become one of forgotten districts under the Makkah Municipality located just nine kilometers north of the Grand Mosque. Mismanagement is the main problem facing its development, say its residents. The presence of stray dogs has threatened the peaceful life of its people. Residents complain that the district has roads that are old and lighting systems are negligible and intermittent. Garbage accumulates here and there polluting the atmosphere while the district lacks basic infrastructure facilities. Despite all these negative aspects, the district is witnessing construction works for new homes. Saeed Salimeen, who has been living in the district for the last 20 years, spoke about the district's poor condition that demands quick corrective action by authorities. “Lack of cleanliness is one of the main problems facing the district. Often residents had to appoint workers to clean the district and share the expense,” he pointed out. The district's branch roads are not asphalted and are in bad shape, Salimeen said. Lack of street lights make residents frightful to walk in the night. “We had informed municipal authorities about the district's requirements but nothing has happened.” Hamid Al-Shanbari, another resident, said the presence of huge rocks threatens the life of people and it could fall on passersby during torrential floods. Ghazi Al-Lahyani said residents had approached the Umrah Municipality many times urging them to asphalt the district's roads and provide them with street lights. “We hope the municipality would take care of our requests as quickly as possible before it is too late.” Bakr Hausawi urged authorities to establish parks and playing grounds in the district for the benefit of its residents. “The district lacks a drainage system. At present residents depend on trucks to remove waste water from their homes,” he added. Osama Abdullah Zaitouni, director of information and publishing at Makkah Municipality, described Ghazala as one of the underdeveloped and disorganized districts in the city. “We have removed several illegal occupation of public lands in Ghazala. We have also taken steps to remove huge rocks and abandoned vehicles in the district,” he said. Zaitouni said asphalting of roads and setting up of street lights would start soon after the completion of drainage works by the National Water Company. “We are awaiting NWC to complete its works to start implementation of various municipal projects in the district.”
