JEDDAH, 3 June 2007 — Recent studies carried out by the Jeddah Municipality revealed that there are more than 2,500 dilapidated buildings and more than 35,000 structures in need of urgent renovation across the city.
Muhammad Ajaj, a senior municipal official, said that the municipality has formed a special committee to check structures and determine whether they need demolishing. The committee comprises representatives of various bodies, including the Civil Defense, the police, traffic department, electrical companies and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
“The role of this committee, which will hold scheduled meetings each month, is to identify and assess dilapidated structures. The committee will also assign an architectural consultant to check buildings and determine whether they can be renovated or need to be demolished,” said Ajaj.
The demolition process will include the committee informing owners of high-risk buildings. The committee will also provide support and help to owners who do not have alternative accommodation through the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Ajaj said owners of the structures would have the chance to appeal decisions made by the committee and that they are at liberty to hire their own private architectural consultants. The municipality would compare reports and implement the most accurate one.
Ajaj said that the municipality would assign a number of contractors to demolish buildings and that they would be selected through public bids.
Speaking about the current demolition work that is taking place in the Al-Sabeel district in the Balad area of Jeddah, Ajaj said the work was being carried out by municipality workers and not through contractors.
He added that the project helped in reducing traffic congestions caused by a lack of structural planning in the area.
The municipality has so far demolished 45 houses in the district over the last four months. Municipality workers are currently clearing debris to redesign the road layout in the area.
Ajaj said most of the dilapidated structures are located in old districts in the central and southern parts of Jeddah, which are inhabited mainly by expatriate workers.
He added that many of the structures were built illegally without legitimate ownership deeds.
