Abdullah Al-Amri
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
NAMAS — Ten years after torrential floods swept away a bridge and damaged a major road in Bani Amir north of Namas, the municipality has not taken any action to repair it.
The road has since become a death trap that has claimed lives of several residents in nearby villages.
“Floods damaged only a stretch of few meters of the Jamie Road but it resulted in several deadly accidents in the past 10 years,” a resident told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.
The road serves residents of Muqassira, Al-Thawab, Al-Hamid, Al-Nabeela and Al-Saleem villages. People living in these villages have lost many loved ones as a result of accidents.
The villagers held the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, represented by Bani Amr Municipality, responsible for the deaths that have occurred on the road and urged the municipality to take quick action to repair the damage.
In a previous report published three years ago then chairman of the Bani Amr Municipality Tarek Al-Maeed said a contract has been awarded to rebuild the bridge and repair the road, adding that the project has been presented to the ministry for approval. He also stated that the project would be implemented soon after signing an agreement with the contractor.
The following year, Hamad Al-Omar, spokesman for the ministry, said the bridge needs reinforcement for its protection and it has been included among anti-flood projects. He said the project has been awarded to a national company but required some procedures for the contractor to start work.
In a report published by Okaz earlier this year, the current Chairman of Bani Amr Municipality Mohammed Al-Ghamdi repeated the promises. He said efforts are under way to re-tender the project as per the law.
Majed Al-Shahri, spokesman for Asir Mayoralty, said the site has been included among projects meant to prevent floods. He added that the project will be implemented "as per capabilities".
The residents have expressed their anguish over the municipality’s fake promises that have so far remained ink on the paper. “The road serves as a death trap for people who go to perform prayers at the mosque on the Jamie Road. Deadly accidents happen at times of fog and rain,” one resident said.
