MAKKAH: Over 500 home owners with no title deeds in Makkah's Al-Zahareen District will be paid cash or other compensation for their properties which were expropriated to make way for the King Abdul Aziz Parallel Road Project. The procedures for the compensation have been completed through the Makkah General Court, said Engineer Muhammad Al-Qinawi, Director of Umm Al-Qura Development and Construction Company, the company carrying out the road project. Al-Qinawi praised the Makkah Mayoralty for helping to get the proper documents issued to those who live in the district. The residents will have the choice of taking shares in the company, at the value of the property after estimates are completed by the Appraisal Committee; getting the compensation in cash; selling their property to the developer; or selling to any other buyer. Al-Qinawi said that investors in the company have allocated SR500 million for payment of compensation, in addition to the SR450 million allocated earlier. The Makkah and Holy Sites' Development Authority, in coordination with the security and services agencies, is scheduled to begin cutting off electricity to 671 properties in Al-Zahareen District. The King Abdul Aziz Parallel Road passes through six unplanned districts and links the Central Area with the western gateway to Makkah. A tripartite committee - comprising the Makkah and Holy Sites' Development Authority, Makkah Mayoralty and Umm Al-Qura Development and Construction Company, the project developer – will continue to maintain staff at its headquarters in Al-Russaifa District to process the real estate owners' applications and register the form of compensation they prefer. Over the past two days, the General Court in Makkah and the Notary Public's office were inundated with real estate owners from Al-Zahareen District who wanted their compensation documents sorted out. Several owners received their compensation checks and have vacated their homes. Dr. Sami Barhameen, Secretary of the Makkah Development Authority, said that after the power supply is cut to the homes, the demolitions and removal of debris will start.
