Saudi Gazette report

ABHA — The Municipality of Rijal Alma has revealed that a project for building municipal yards, pedestrian walkways and playgrounds on Wadi Reem Road was shelved because the Ministry of Finance withdrew funds even though the preliminary work had already started.

Reacting to a report published by Okaz newspaper that said Rijal Alma lacked several civic services, the municipality said the lighting of the main road was approved as part of the project to develop streets and roundabouts in the city, but the project was withdrawn on instructions from the authorities and the signing of contracts was stopped.

The municipality apologized for not building a ramp at the entrance to the village of Al-Sallil, which is at a low level and at the end of the bridge on a public street.

The municipality said it was doing everything possible to serve Al-Sallil residents and two projects serving the entrances to the village were completed as well as asphalting of the main road leading to it.

The municipality has acquired land and studied the location for building entrances to and yards around King Fahd Mosque in the city, and is awaiting the availability of funds to start construction.

It explained that the city's livestock market was not its responsibility because the land was invested by the Endowments Department. It added that work was under way to establish a livestock market next to the slaughterhouse and the vegetable market. It pointed out that no investor had come forward to invest in the market for fruit and vegetables, and meat even though five years had passed since its completion.

The municipality confirmed that it was making efforts to restore the heritage village by modernizing the garden entrance and rebuilding the village theater. It implemented various services in Al-Habil Center, as approved by the municipal council and in view of financial allocations.

The municipality announced completing the construction of public bathrooms.

Work on water pipelines and planting trees are still being completed prior to opening the project to the public, is said.

During a previous tour of the region, Okaz reported that residents of Rijal Alma had complained of poor municipal services and that the development projects in the historic village did not keep pace with its cultural and literary reputation.