In line with plans to prevent and control floods and with the aim to enhance disaster preparedness, three rivers in northern Tehran are being dredged and decontaminated daily, Mehr News Agency reported.
Everyday more than 29 workers are dredging and desilting the 11 waterways in northern Tehran. Some waterways are cleansed 2-3 times a week. This effectively controls potential risks, head of northern Tehran waterway offices, Abdollah Parvizi said.
A large part of the waste collected from river beds is recyclable. The waste also includes non-recyclable litter. Most river banks in northern Tehran are common weekend picnic destinations: Darabad, Darband, Jamshidieh, and Maqsud Beyk to name a few, and river banks in these areas are the most heavily polluted, as citizens recklessly throw litter during their weekend outings. Accordingly, the first few days of the week are the busiest for the laborers dredging the waterways.
During the first six months of the calendar year (March-September) due to minimal rainfall, the amount of sediment was relatively low. On the other hand unfortunately, litter produced by citizens was at its highest.
Littering is also the main cause of flooding in streams and gutters. From the beginning of the year (started March 21) up until now, 100,000 cubic meters of sediment and waste have been collected from the capital’s northern watercourses, the official stated.
