Rains uncover capital’s random planning [Archives:2005/870/Front Page]

SANA'A- Heavy rains falling on the country this week caused damage and destruction to different areas of Yemen, mainly the capital city of Sana'a where strong torrents disclosed the random kind planning of its infrastructures.

The Yemeni capital topped the list of cities where people have become subjected to drowning in heavy rainfalls on the city on Friday and Saturday. Those rains uncovered the fragility of projects related to the construction of Sana'a sewages that cost billions of riyals.

Sewage projects raise concern among ordinary citizens and businessmen who closed their shops due to an endless construction of sewages. Rains converted streets of the capital into swamps filled with stagnant water causing proliferation of mosquitoes that are responsible for the spread of deadliest diseases.

Construction companies did not implement Sana'a sewage projects in the required way despite the fact they took large sums of money for the construction.

The project of Sana'a watercourse is one of the biggest projects that cost large amounts of money, most of them are loans on Yemen that have not been exploited in a better way.

Strong torrents sweeping streets of the capital usually flow down from mountains surrounding the city. Due to the lack of successful plans to exploit water flowing into the capital, recent studies confirmed there would be inevitable shortage and crisis in the city's underground water that is expected to deplete in 2025.

The situation requires closer attention and making available alternative water resources, mainly as the city of Sana'a depends on the renewable rainwater. The concerned authorities should take successful steps for the construction of water barriers in the city, other than simple dams in order to store large quantities of rainwater to alleviate suffering of the locals.
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