Authorities in Makkah have reportedly started a crackdown on car washing in streets amid concerns about the impact on health and the environment.
Citizens and residents in Makkah have been urged to refrain from having their cars washed on the streets, with Traffic Administration spokesman Ali Al Zahran saying recent investigations had found 87 sites where this was taking place.
A number of citizens are said to have called on authorities for a campaign against street car washes, which are generally operated by expats.
They say it was leading to health and environmental problems such as dengue fever and the spread of harmful chemicals.
They also claimed that most of the water used was taken from irrigation water for trees and have demanded that authorities intensified field inspections and arrested people washing vehicles.
Osama Zaytoni, spokesman of the Secretariat of the Holy City, said field teams from each municipality were tasked with monitoring car washing. He said authorities had confiscated tools, as well as prevented the use of public water sources.
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