2 rain water projects in eastern Karbala

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: Work has been initiated on two rain water drainage networks in Karbala city at a total cost of nearly $435,000, the local mayor said on Sunday. The projects are located in al-Hindiya district and al-Dhubbat neighborhood, downtown Karbala, and will be financed through the provincial development budget for the year 2008. Karbala, with an estimated population of 572,300 people in 2003, is the capital of the province and is considered to be one of Shiite Muslims’ holiest cities. The city, 110 km south of Baghdad, is one of Iraq’s wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and agricultural produce, especially dates. SS (P)/SR 1