The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) in Madinah has heightened its preparedness as pilgrims return from the holy sites after performing Hajj rituals, through an inspection plan targeting high-density areas and facilities with significant environmental impact in the city and along access roads.
NCEC Madinah branch Director Sultan Al-Zahrani stated that inspection efforts during the 1447 AH Hajj season included 550 inspection tours conducted before, during, and after the season. He noted that the tours revealed a high overall level of compliance, except for 63 non-compliant cases that were addressed in accordance with applicable regulations to mitigate their environmental impact.
Al-Zahrani added that the center responded to 50 environmental reports, with samples collected and analyzed to verify the level of violations, noting that most cases were administrative in nature and related to the absence of operational permits.
He explained that inspection tours covered healthcare facilities, fuel stations, and sites along land routes leading to and from Madinah, in addition to areas surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque and those witnessing large numbers of pilgrims and visitors.
Al-Zahrani noted that seasonal operations included more than 430 water and soil analyses to verify the safety of natural sites and wells frequented by pilgrims and visitors.
He added that the center continues its environmental monitoring efforts through a network of 21 air quality monitoring stations covering the vicinity of the Prophet’s Mosque, roads, entry points, and pilgrim gathering sites, alongside periodic measurements of noise levels at visitation sites and crowded areas.
Al-Zahrani affirmed that monitoring efforts were doubled this year through the use of advanced technologies to support inspection and environmental monitoring activities. He noted that 20 satellite images, along with artificial intelligence technologies for environmental data analysis, contributed to covering a broader geographical area of Madinah, with a focus on the vicinity of the Prophet’s Mosque and areas where pilgrims reside and gather.
Source: Riyadh Daily