JEDDAH: City authorities in Jeddah have approved an action plan for the summer holiday season, which includes maintenance, hygiene control and preparation of new public facilities to meet the requirements of massive crowds that are flowing to the city for vacationing, according to a municipal official.
Khalid Aqeel, deputy mayor for services, said the plan aims at intensifying cleaning work around the city and assigning more teams to monitor restaurants and food outlets.
“This year we have introduced new high technology equipment that could measure the hygiene level not only of food but of workers as well,” Aqeel said.
He said each monitoring official would carry three different devices that could instantly measure hygiene levels of food and workers, quality of cooking oil and the right temperature of refrigerators. “With these new devices we will have instant and accurate readings that ensure the safety of food outlets,” he said.
Aqeel said the municipality would also launch an awareness campaign against the negativities of horse and motorbike rentals that have been taking place along the Corniche.
The campaign is aimed at educating the visitors to refrain from dealing with illegal horse and motorbike owners, who sometimes manage to slip their way into the Corniche area.
According to Bahjat Hamouh, head of the garden and parks department, the municipality is currently working on rehabilitating more than 125 public parks around the city.
“The municipality has also identified 50 open yards around the city which would become public facilities and play grounds in the near future,” he said.
The open yards were designed to cater to all both men and women of all age groups. They will have playgrounds, green areas, public seats and toilets, he said.
