Okaz/Saudi Gazette

TAIF – People of Hawiya in Taif governorate have complained about environment pollution caused by growing number of workshops in the industrial district.

“Water coming from these workshops has created swamps that produce disease-carrying mosquitoes and spread nasty smell in the district,” said Abdullah Mohammed.

Hawiya residents have called upon the Taif municipality to intervene quickly to protect them from diseases and save the environment.

“We have been facing this problem for the last two years. Contaminated water from workshops was also damaging asphalted roads in the district,” Mohammed told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

He blamed the problem on illegal expatriates who operated workshops in the area, defying regulations. “The municipality should take immediate punitive action against those who cause environment pollution,” he added.

Abdul Mohsen Al-Quthami, another resident, said water coming from industrial workshops created lakes that served as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

“This dirty water creates potholes and damages asphalted streets,” he said.

Al-Quthami wondered why the municipality was ignoring these excesses despite the recurrent complaints made by residents of Hawiya.

Ali Al-Osaimi said the dirty water would affect the business of legally-run workshops as people would be reluctant to take their cars to workshops surrounded by swamps.

“We want quick action by the municipality to end environment pollution caused by illegal workshops in the area,” he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.