JIZAN, 1 February — Minister of Agriculture and Water Abdullah Muammar said yesterday that the ministry would pay compensation to farmers whose cattle had died in the recent Rift Valley Fever outbreak in southern Saudi Arabia. He said SR450 will be paid for each sheep dead after contracting the disease.
The minister was speaking to reporters after opening a cleaning campaign organized by Al-Safi Club in three Jizan villages yesterday. He emphasized the importance of enlightening the public on the adverse effects littering would have on the environment.
Muammar also revealed that the second largest dam in the Kingdom would be built in Wadi Bish at a cost of SR150 million. The project, which aims to promote agricultural activities in the region, will be completed in four years. The ministry will also launch a project costing SR30 million to sink drinking water wells and to build water tanks and supply network in the region, Muammar said.
The club's president, Muhammad Al-Oraifi, said the cleaning campaign aimed at serving the society by preserving the ecological balance and strengthening the bonds between the company and government agencies.
The campaign will cover Al-Omairiyah, Bakhsha and Al-Ghazwa villages.
In a speech on the occasion, Assam Barik, deputy head of the region's municipality, recounted the contribution of the civic authorities to maintain ecological balance in the region. He said the municipality had spent SR179 million to fill stagnant water pools and clean up garbage accumulated in the villages. He underscored the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in social service.
After formally launching the campaign, the minister also toured around a photographic exhibition featuring the club's previous cleaning campaigns. (SPA)
