MAKKAH, 10 May 2006 - Makkah Mayor Khaled Nahhas has endorsed the municipality's plan for the Umrah season when more than three million people from around the world are expected to perform the minor pilgrimage. The municipality would deploy 5,216 work- ers with 559 pieces of equipment to ensure the cleanliness of the Central Region of Makkah and surrounding areas during the season, a press statement said.
"It has readied 106 garbage boxes in and around the city including 51 in the central region," the statement added.
The municipality has also increased the number of teams to be deployed to ensure environmental health. These teams will inspect markets and coordinate with various government agencies to safeguard Makkah's environment. The municipality has also intensified its inspection of slaughterhouses in the city and prevented slaughter of animals outside them. Its maintenance teams are checking the con-ditions of roads and tunnels as well as sewage facilities. "We have set up a special agency to tackle emergencies such as fire, flooding and other accidents," the statement said.
According to Saad Al-Qurashi, deputy chairman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah, some 3.5 million pilgrims are expected to perform Umrah this year. More than 340,000 pilgrims have already arrived, he added.
