Over 12,000 workers to keep Makkah streets clean

MAKKAH — The municipality of the holy city has hired over 12,000 workers to keep the streets neat and clean during Ramadan. Mayor Osama Al-Bar said the municipality will run intensive inspection campaigns on stores and slaughterhouses. “The municipality will increase the number of workers and equipment in the cleaning committee and the general health committee. The municipality has a comprehensive plan in preparation of the coming Umrah season in Ramadan,” Al-Bar was quoted by Al-Hayat as saying. He also said municipality employees will be present to monitor and supervise all of the various committees and departments to ensure that they follow the plan efficiently. “The plan employs all of the branch municipalities in the holy city. The plan benchmarks all of the equipment and services offered by the municipality to ensure they meet the international standards and are of high quality,” said Al-Bar. He added certain areas of the city will be more crowded than others such as the central area, shopping centers and the neighborhoods and districts surrounding the Grand Mosque. “Many national and international pilgrims will be visiting Makkah in Ramadan. The municipality is anticipating an increase in the amount of waste discarded by shopping centers and restaurants. The municipality also needs to inspect the quality of services and the food and water served to ensure they are safe for human consumption,” said Al-Bar. He also said the municipality also needs to be ready to arrest unlicensed street vendors. “The municipality is also responsible for the electricity in the streets and the environmental health of the city. The municipality has more than 11,825 cleaners ready to work and more than 850 cleaning supplies and equipment,” said Al-Bar. He said the municipality also has a team of exterminators to combat insects, especially since an increase in has been noticed in cases of dengue fever. “The team consists of more than 900 experts and technicians equipped with more than 1,000 machines and vehicles to exterminate insects. The municipality will also inspect slaughterhouses and penalize violators of the municipality’s rules and regulations,” said Al-Bar.