The Energy Ministry has no intention of importing water from neighboring states, such as Tajikistan and Turkey, Iran’s energy minister said.
“Water import is not, has not been and will not be among our plans to fight the menace of drought in the central plateau and southern regions,” Ali Akbar Mehrabian was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
Referring to viable alternatives to ease the scarcity, he noted that the ministry is pursuing water diplomacy to settle conflicts concerning cross-border resources with Turkey and Afghanistan.
“The diplomatic instrument is a dynamic process that helps develop reasonable and peaceful solutions to water-related concerns while promoting collaboration among riparian stakeholders,” he added.
Highlighting recent talks with Afghan officials, Mehrabian said they have agreed to release Iran's fair water share from Hirmand River (known as Helmand in Afghanistan).
Meanwhile, negotiations over shared water resources are continuing with Turkish officials.
Iran is also in constant contact with Iraqi and Syrian governments since both states have been adversely affected by Turkey’s dam construction plans.
Over the past half century, Turkey has built 22 dams and 19 hydropower plants on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as part of its multibillion dollar Southeast Anatolia Project that has caused severe drought in large parts of Syria and Iraq.
From 2012 to 2014, Turkey built six hydropower plants on Aras River and is currently planning eight more.
“Controversial policies pursued by Turkey and Afghanistan, which deplete water supplies in transboundary waters, such as shared aquifers, lakes and river basins, have intensified water paucity in Iran,” he added.
According to the minister, an effective water diplomacy will hopefully convince neighboring nations to abide by the treaties and memoranda of understanding signed with Iran.
Chronic Shortage
Mehrabian said 230 water and wastewater projects are in the pipeline and their completion will help alleviate the chronic shortage in the country and water import is not an option.
According to Alireza Shariat, director of Iran Water Industry Federation, purchasing water from Tajikistan will cost a fortune (at least $4 per cubic meter).
“Some experts have suggested that the Energy Ministry should import water as low precipitation and mismanagement of depleting underground resources are taking a heavy toll on the farming sector and industries,” he said.
“Taking such tentative steps toward tackling the country's water problems will only worsen the situation, as measures to supply water at any cost have never produced positive long-term results.”
As long as demand is not managed, water imports or similar moves like trans-basin diversion schemes cannot solve the problem.
Shariat said the persistence of officials on pursuing failed policies makes the mind boggle, as there are other viable alternatives, such as using treated wastewater in the agro sector and gray water in households, as well as adopting modern farming techniques, which are widely used all around the globe.
According to Shariat, hydrological studies in the Middle East show Iran will be adversely affected by water shortage in the coming years and there is no time to practice trial and error methods.
“Using developed countries’ experience is the most pragmatic approach and repeating the vicious cycle of trial and error will take us nowhere,” he said.
“Officials may have succeeded in solving other economic issues, but water is a crucial commodity and failing to tackle the problem fundamentally will result in severe social and economic consequences sooner rather than later.”
The official noted that given its geopolitical proximity to Caspian Sea in the north and Persian Gulf in the south, Iran has almost always been exposed to international water conflicts.
Faced with water-related challenges, Iran is finding it increasingly difficult to supply water to industries, agriculture and household.
Water experts insist that discussing water management with other countries and drawing on their experience should be a priority.
Shariat stressed that although water scarcity is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing Iran, inefficient management of the valuable resource is largely to blame for a crisis that has emerged over the years.
