A citizens' group said that illegal construction by a new investor has changed the flood route in Wadi Mosarrah, the second largest valley in Taif, next to Wadi Woj. Representing over 3,000 people who live close to the valley, the group called for the quick intervention of the authorities to stop the investor from going ahead with his construction plans.

They alleged that the investor encroached part of the valley and filled it up to make way for a township. He has alleged plans to sell off plots of land for aspiring investors in the township to be built on the flood passage.

Speaking to Arab News, a number of citizens voiced their anxiety over a possible occurrence of a flood disaster similar to the one that happened in Jeddah last year.

Abed Al-Sufyani, who has been living in the neighborhood of Wadi Mosarrah, asked authorities to intervene to prevent a recurrence of last year's Jeddah flood disaster in Taif.

"We are living in fear and anxiety. These greedy investors are encroaching on public property, putting the life of local people at risk. The issue of Wadi Mosarrah has remained insoluble for more than 12 years after a number of citizens lodged a complaint to the authorities about serious violations in implementing a government project. The Department of Roads had plans to build a 120-meter crossing across the valley but some people were successful in shortening the bridge's length to just 12 meters," he said.

Motlaq Al-Otaibi, another resident, expressed his dismay over the new encroachment in the valley. "Nearly one year ago, before the Jeddah flood disaster, a real estate investor created a new passage in the valley, and that was just 20 meters away from the water pool. He used huge rocks to erect barriers to change flood route, and restrict the rainwater passage to a smaller area," he said, while urging the authorities to stop the investor from going ahead with his illegal plans and take stringent punitive action against him.

Echoing the view, Miteb Al-Towairqi, another resident, said residents feared disaster in the event of heavy rains. "Obstruction of rainwater passage due to illegal construction causes overflowing of the valley and disruption of normal life," he added.

Replying to queries from Arab News, Ismail Ibrahim, director of public relations and information at Taif Municipality, said the municipality attaches great importance to the issue and will do whatever is necessary to address the problem.

"Some of the illegal structures have already been removed. A committee, comprising representatives of the regional governorate, the municipality and the Civil Defense, has been constituted to verify the investor's claim on the land and to determine whether there were any encroachments," he said.