JEDDAH: Natural evaporation is what the Jeddah municipality is banking on to rid the city of water pools following rains two weeks ago.

An online paper has revealed that 1,456 swampy areas are waiting to be dried up under the sun as the city’s top civic body feels that the water is just on the surface and that some insecticide spray would be sufficient to prevent mosquito breeding.

This was the official response after people in the residential areas complained that the swamps were creating problems, the paper reported.

Mohammad, a resident of Obhur, said he had electronically complained to the Jeddah secretariat about the problem of mud and silt at the entrance of the locality following rains. “Even the option of registering a complaint was suspended during the last two days. No team of the secretariat visited the area despite repeated complaints,” he said.

Mohammad Al-Baqami, spokesman of the secretariat, said the operations to clear the water were limited to the main roads and streets with heavy traffic, and deep swamps. He said where swamps are not deep, they were left for natural evaporation. However, he added that these areas were sprayed to prevent mosquitoes.

Some of the affected areas are Al-Samir, Al-Ajwad, Al-Harmain, Al-Nakheel, Quwaizah, Umm Al-Khair, Al-Sawaid, Al-Harazat Al-Rawabi in the east and Al-Khumra, Al-Sanabil, Al-Kandrah, Al-Quryat, Al-Ajawed, Al-Maaridh, Al-Waziriyah in the south and Obhur, Taibah, Al-Marjan, Al-Lulu, Mukhattat 505 in the north.

Areas that have turned into swamps are construction spots, parks, factories, railway sites, roads, bridge & tunnel projects and sewerage systems.