JEDDAH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has revealed some irregularities and violations by a number of municipalities in permitting plans and allowing people to build houses near the flooded areas.

NSHR stated that it received complaints from citizens living in cities located to the south and west of the Kingdom. Their accusations are directed toward the authorities in charge of addressing the problem of floods. “They have failed to perform their duty properly in the interest of safety, thus exposing the people to the threat of floods,” the society stated. The accusations are directed toward the Asir, Taif and Jazan municipalities in particular, a local publication reported.

Mufleh Al-Qahtani, head of NSHR, said in a statement to the publication: “The society continues to receive complaints from citizens living in Asir, Taif and Jazan, which witnessed heavy rains during the past weeks and caused damages to the public and property.”

He emphasized that the complaints focused on accusing the municipalities in the three regions of failing to efficiently complete the projects related to stave off the dangers of torrents and the damages caused by floods.

“Some of the projects cost tens of millions of riyals but they continue to pose a threat to the citizens with each rainy season,” Al-Qahtani added.

He said the society inspected some of the locations and found that some very populated neighborhoods are located near the flooded areas but the draining system of rainwater remains obsolete and is rendered useless in the event of severe floods.

“The municipalities represent the bodies of jurisdiction to grant building permit and in this case they violated the regulations,” Al-Qahtani stated.

He said the municipalities must find immediate and urgent solutions to these problems in order to put an end to this repeated scenario year after year.

Meanwhile, Taif Municipality made huge efforts to drain out rainwater.

Rains closed down the Al-Hada Highway in Taif as the municipal bulldozers were engaged in draining out water in the Al-Monawiah Circle flood caused by heavy rain in Taif on Friday evening.

The areas receiving heavy rains included the airport, Sabeel small and large highway, Sayousid, industrial area, Al-Qamaria, Park neighborhood, and Al-Hada.

Water accumulated in Al Monawiah Circle and water was scooped in Al-Ghrafat Road with the help of Road Traffic Department. Vehicles stranded in the flood in the downward circular section were removed by civil defense.

The raids fell in Bilad Thamala and the Coastal Road, Bani Saad, Baqran, Shifa, and Southern Road. On the Taif Road. there were traffic patrols, especially at the beginning of the bridges where water is accumulated and remains hazardous.

Civil Defense spokesman Col. Nasser bin Sultan Al-Sharief said the Weather Department is expecting a wet spell with thunder on the eastern parts of the Taif Province.

He added that its teams managed to rescue two older people from flash floods in Sudeira Valley. It advised the people to stay away from these and other areas where rainwater had accumulated, and to stay at home for their own safety, according to Al-Madinah newspaper.