A five-member committee set up by the council has urged authorities to tackle the problems facing the vegetable and fruit market as well as to send samples of vegetables and fruits to laboratories for checking whether they are contaminated or not.
“We are now in the process of setting up a laboratory to inspect all products that enter the vegetable market in Jeddah,” said Bassam Akhdar, chairman of the committee.
The investor, who is operating the market, has agreed to conduct a feasibility study on the laboratory, including its location, cost and manpower requirements.
The committee urged the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support the project, adding that it would benefit the whole Makkah province.
Muetasim Abuzinada, a senior official at the central vegetable market, said clearance of foreign vegetables without checking posed a danger to the public.
Hussein Baoqail, chairman of the council, said the body would discuss environmental problems in Jeddah during its meeting on Wednesday.
The increase in the cost of building a bridge in Obhur, which is estimated at more than SR1 billion, will also become a subject of heated discussion during the meeting.
There are many reasons for environment pollution in Jeddah. They include smoke from the desalination plant, industrial city, burning of garbage and emission from vehicles.
