JEDDAH: Local authorities in Jeddah have been issuing licenses for residential buildings in valleys, which are natural floodwater passages, for over 30 years between 1974-2005, Arabic daily Al-Hayat reported on Monday.
The newspaper said it had documents proving these violations, which were only uncovered from Nov. 25 after the flooding disaster which killed at least 120 people, left many others missing, and destroyed numerous properties.
It said, among others, the licensed plots were in badly hit districts, including Quwaizah, Al-Samir, Al-Rughama, Al-Nakheel and Al-Waha.
The paper questioned the real reasons behind the authorities granting the building licenses, even though Islam for over 14 centuries has banned building houses in the bottoms of valleys. “The investigation committee ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will find answers to these questions.”
According to the daily, about 35 residential quarters were built on an area of over 18 million square meters inside the valleys.
