Land Subsidence in Qazvin Worsens

Land subsidence caused by the decline in the level of groundwater resources has been a growing phenomenon in Qazvin Province and is expected to cause irreparable damage to the environment if it is not addressed in time.

According to Abdolhossein Mozaffari, the director of Monitoring and Health Office at the provincial Department of Environment, land subsidence has reached a critical point in the southern regions due to the excessive withdrawal of water from aquifers.

"With the depletion of ground water reserves, the last hope of restoration will die," Mozaffari was quoted as saying by IRNA.

So far, a series of short- and long-term measures have been implemented by the province's executive authorities to tackle the issue. Closing illegal wells and plans to cut withdrawal from legal ones are among short-term plans while long-term measures include the development of mechanized agricultural practices and wastewater recycling.

"The problem has evolved over a long time and cannot be addressed overnight, but we hope that short-term measures will help improve present conditions and prevent the expansion of land subsidence," he said. The official stressed that as 91% of the water are used in crop irrigation across the province, farmers should be taught to adopt methods compatible with the region's climate.

Mozaffari said the provincial office of DOE has a number of measures on its agenda, including comprehensive water management in the agriculture sector and improvement of cultivation and irrigation methods. "Effective measures have been taken to address the issue but more stringent monitoring and control are required so that these measures can produce results," he said.