Markazi Qanats in Dire Straits

Drilling wells, both legal and illegal, in Markazi Province’s counties have accelerated the death of qanats (aqueducts) in the region, the head of the Soil and Water Office at the provincial agricultural organization said.
“There are 3,600 qanats in the province, of which 35% or 1,260 are dry and the number of unusable qanats is on the rise,” Farzad Kouhdani was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
“Qanat are especially in critical conditions in Zarandiyeh, Arak and Saveh counties,” he said, adding that of the total 11,500 wells dug in the province over the last two decades, close to 9,000 were drilled in the three areas.