Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has provided more than 2,200 workers to clean the Grand Mosque every day around the clock so as to ensure a spiritual ambience for pilgrims, visitors and congregates to pray and supplicate.

Mohammed Al-Jabri, director of the department of cleaning, said 1,450 cleaners are working inside the Haram 24/7 to keep it clean while 419 are cleaning the plazas and 418 will be working in shifts in and outside the Grand Mosque.

The presidency has set up as many as 1,500 garbage bins and 1,500 water containers inside the Grand Mosque for the cleaners to use.

Jabri said 126 cleaners are keeping 1,983 bathrooms clean and are also cleaning 21 ablution areas inside the Haram and 10 outside it.

He said there are also 230 men and women workers cleaning the toilets outside the Haram for men and women.

According to him, as many as 350 women cleaners are also participating in the cleaning of the Grand Mosque.

Jabri said there are a number of machines to suck water and clean the debris and left overs including kernels and empty plastic cups.

He said 67 vehicles are cleaning the Haram and its plazas of which 45 are working inside the Haram and 22 in the plazas.

"We also have 100 vehicles to suck the dust from the carpets and 70 others to dry up the water," he said.

Jabri said every day about 30 ton of garbage is pulled out of the Grand Mosque.

Most of the garbage are date kernels, disposable water and juice cups and other food leftovers.