JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal Sunday reviewed a number of projects the Jeddah municipality was planning to implement east of the Jeddah-Makkah expressway at Asala with a total area of 120 million square meters.
Among others, the projects include: a forest, a national park, a farmer’s village and a safari park in addition to turning the old trash dump site into a park.
Mayor of Jeddah Adel Faqieh said the presentation made to the governor included a study of the green belt project to be carried out by a specialized company. He said the project will consist of entertainment, sports and educational schemes that will take into account Saudi and international standards for a clean environment.
The mayor said the municipality is currently implementing the first and second stages of the green belt project. “A total of 360,000 plants of 12 species have been grown in the first phase,” he explained.
The mayor said the green belt project, known as the Eastern Corniche, would be irrigated by treated sewage water.
He said a study is expected to be completed next January following which the Jeddah Development and Construction Company would seek qualified partners for the implementation of these projects.
He also said the water of the sewage lake will be used to make artificial lakes for the irrigation.
“The projects east of the expressway are aimed at creating a green belt for the city and the inhabitants,” he said.
He said the farmers’ village to be set up in Wadi Hafna (the center of Wadi Al-Asala) would occupy an area of 45 million square meters and will consist of trees, roads, a central farmers’ market, a residential area for them and an amusement park.
“The Jeddah Safari Park on an area of 35 million square meters, will include a natural history museum,” he said.
