TAIF: This mountainous summer resort is facing an acute water shortage problem threatening to spoil its summer season where people come from all parts of the Kingdom and the other GCC countries to enjoy the city’s pleasant weather and beautiful scenery.
Thousands of consumers assemble from early morning until late at night at the water distribution stations recently with the hope to buy a coupon that will enable them to purchase a water tanker. “People are crowding in an uncivilized manner at the water distribution stations to the point of fist fighting. The security has to intervene to organize them in long queues,” a citizen said. He added that many of the stations were closed on the pretext that the water pipes had exploded. Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen, who visited Taif last week, took immediate steps to resolve the problem of the shortage of water. He met for this purpose with the director of water in Makkah province and signed contracts worth SR139 million to implement a number of water projects.
“The tenants are threatening to leave us because of the water problem,” an owner of a furnished apartment said. He said the price of a water tanker has gone up from SR100 to SR600 these days. “Even at this high price, it is difficult to get one,” he added.
