DAMMAM, 28 May 2008 — Municipal officials in Alkhobar closed 140 shops for violating various regulations and razed 35 dilapidated buildings over the past four months, according to a report issued by the municipality yesterday.
“The shops were closed after they had been repeatedly warned against violating hygienic and safety regulations,” Essam Al-Mulla, chairman of Alkhobar Municipality, said in the report.
As part of a city beautification and renovation project, which is in its second phase, King Faisal Coastal Road has been given a new look, the downtown area has been expanded and new link roads have been constructed, Al-Mulla said. The eastern side of the King Fahd Road opposite Alkhobar Iskan has been opened to traffic.
“In Al-Hada neighborhood, 90 percent of the development work has been carried out with 80 percent of land fillings and ground leveling for residential projects in the area nearing completion,” Al-Mulla said.
The municipality plans to develop model neighborhoods Al-Hasawi, Al-Dousari, Corniche, Al-Thaqba and Al-Bustan besides asphalting the main streets in the Al-Jisr district in the second half of the year, he said.
A total of 48,442 cubic meters of garbage was removed over the past four months, Al-Mulla said.
The report also mentioned that the municipality issued 22,971 trade licenses and 2,617 health cards. It fined 1,292 shops for various violations.
The officials also seized and destroyed 20,461 kilograms of foodstuffs past their sell-by dates. The municipality collected a total of SR141,400 in fines for health violations and unauthorized felling of trees. City officials issued 1,853 warnings against various violations during the period, the report said.
