ABHA, 24 April — The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has issued an order prohibiting the issuing of licenses for residential buildings erected underneath high-tension electricity lines.
The order is based on the findings of an official medical report, which established a clear link between blood-related diseases and high-tension towers in residential areas.
The new regulations, approved by Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Muhammad Al-Jarallah, stipulate that “municipalities should not issue building licenses to citizens without first consulting and obtaining the approval of the Saudi Electric Company in the region. Licenses simply will not be issued if the question of residents’ safety is ignored.”
The ministry, in a number of cases, prevented buildings from being constructed because they were planned directly underneath electricity lines.
