Ahmad Al-Sulaim, director of the drainage department at the municipality, said the initiatives include construction of five dams, expansion of existing canals in the northern, southern and eastern parts of Jeddah and construction of a new canal along King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Nesma Company won a contract worth SR803 million to build four dams in Wadi Ghaya, Wadi Um Hablain, Wadi Daghbaj, and Wadi Briman and another contract worth SR372 million to build another dam in Wadi Ghalil and renovate the southern floodwater path.
Another contract valued at SR143 million was awarded to the China Communications Construction Company to renovate the northern floodwater path.
Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., a company of Saipem Group of Italy, has won the biggest contract, valued at SR1.319 billion, to construct a rainwater drainage system for the new Jeddah airport.
Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trade, Industry and Contracting (Sapac) won a SR751 million contract to renovate the eastern floodwater path.
The four were picked from 13 companies that were prequalified to present tenders for the projects. Feb. 9 was the last date for companies to present their offers.
“The entire process of tackling the problem is being held under the close supervision of Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the branch ministerial committee for projects to deal with rainwater and flashfloods in Jeddah,” Al-Sulaim said.
Jeddah Municipality completed 14 emergency projects to deal with rainwater and flashfloods in Jeddah in December last year within a record time of 110 days. Jeddah was hit by torrential rains and devastating floods in November 2009 and in January 2011 that killed more than 130 people in total and destroyed thousands of homes and cars. A poor drainage system was blamed for turning the flood disaster into a catastrophe.
Al-Sulaim said the permanent projects were the outcome of three workshops held by the municipality and other concerned government departments. He said the first of these workshops discussed the formulation of mechanisms for coordination among all parties involved, while the second reviewed and approved the designs and the third debated the best means of implementation of the current and future development projects in the city.
The two dams, though constructed as part of the ad hoc projects, are in fact part of the permanent solution schemes. The Umm Al-Khair dam was built at a height of seven meters and a length of 1,100 meters and was linked to the northern valley pass via an open canal, which is 730 meters long and 33 meters wide. The Al-Samir dam was also linked to the northern valley pass by an open canal, which is three kilometers long and 40 meters wide.
