Water shortage in Iran has reached crisis point. For years precipitation has been of the declining order while consumption, evaporation and waste have increased.
Echoing repeated warnings by social and economic experts about what lies ahead if urgent measures are not taken, the Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian warned at the weekend that the country is “heading for an unprecedented water crisis.”
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the construction of Golmandareh dam in North Khorasan Province, he said “We should do our best to draw on creativity and knowledge to address water scarcity problems.”
Reviving the almost dry water tables, curbing consumption and preventing water contamination are among the most crucial measures his ministry is pushing for, he said, ISNA reported.
Evaluating the recent moves in the province and region to reduce water and electricity consumption as positive, the minster expressed the hope that ongoing projects would come on stream as scheduled.
According to managing director of North Khorasan Regional Water Co. Kazem Taherian, the dam, situated 135 km west of Bojnourd city, was designed three years ago and has registered a work-in-progress rate of nearly 23%. The project is estimated to cost $45.9 million.
