Badea Abu Al-Naja

Saudi Gazette

 

MAKKAH — The Makkah municipality in a statement on Tuesday, denied recent reports that it was planning to cut down all trees in Arafat because they had become a source for increasing number of insects.



"It is our responsibility to maintain the green environment in Arafat. We are determined to expand the green area in the holy site to purify the atmosphere, reduce the heat and protect the pilgrims against direct sun rays," it said.



The municipality said it was keen to preserve the welfare project of keeping Arafat ever green, for the benefit of the guests of God during their Grand Stand on this holy site.



The municipality further said after each Haj season, it launches a massive campaign to combat insects and mosquitoes that might breed in the water pools resulting from watering the trees.



The municipality said it had special teams to purge the swamps, cover the ditches, dry up the stagnant water and clean the water passes to keep the area free of insects.



The municipality said it used strong insecticides that were not harmful. Meanwhile, a total of 140,094 out of 168,000 non-Arab African pilgrims have so far left the Kingdom to 46 different countries after performing this year's Haj, the Chairman of the Tawafa Establishment for Non-Arab African Pilgrims announced Tuesday.



"The remaining pilgrims will leave for their respective homes during the coming few days, according to a previously-laid down schedule," Abdul Wahid bin Burhan Seifuddin said.



He said the establishment was currently following up the scheduled flights on which the remaining 26,978 would be leaving to make sure that all the flights were timely.



Seifuddin said the establishment has already started assessing the reports about the field services that were extended to the guests of God, so as to avoid all negative aspects in its next year's Haj plan.