(MENAFN- Arab News)  The National Water Company said it would charge SR 5,000 for giving sewage connections to buildings and SR 2,500 for cleaning and closing the existing sewage tanks. "We'll allow home owners to pay the amount in installments over a period of 36 months," said Luay Ahmed Al-Musallam, CEO of the company. In comments published by Al-Madinah Arabic daily yesterday, he said the subsidized amount is charged based on a Cabinet decision. "The actual cost will be much higher," he said. Al-Musallam said the unified fees would be applied for sewage connections in all regions of the Kingdom. He disclosed that more than 20,000 homes in Sharaie districts east of Makkah are ready for connections. "Efforts are underway to provide 20,000 more connections, bringing the total to 40,000," he said, adding that it would benefit 300,000 citizens and residents in the city. Sharaie project was carried out at a cost SR 840 million. Abdullah bin Ahmed Hasanain, director of the company for Makkah and Taif, said an additional SR 2,500 would be charged for cleaning and closing the existing sewage tanks to protect the environment. Badr Almotawa, a Saudi commentator, praised the company for allowing real estate owners to pay the amount in installments. He also praised the company for constructing sewage networks in most Riyadh and Jeddah districts. Almotawa hoped that the NWC would build sewage networks in all new residential districts. "If people start paying, the company will be able to provide sewage network all over the Kingdom within a few years," he told Arab News. The government has allocated SR 14.8 billion for water and sewage projects in 2013 budget. There are projects worth SR 123.5 billion under construction in various parts of the country.