Water Security Committee Formed

A water security committee has been formed at the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission to study the causes of Iran’s worsening water situation and help authorities devise policies to save the precious resource.

The commission will particularly focus on the issue of dam building in regional countries which impact Iran, ISNA reported.

“In recent years, Turkey has built several dams on the Tigris and Euphrates, drastically reducing water supply to Hammar Marsh (in Iraq) and Hoor al-Azim Wetland (the Iran-Iraq border),” Abolfazl Hassanbeigi, a member of the commission, was quoted as saying.

Expressing concern over dam construction projects in Afghanistan, he said, “Prior to the construction of dams on Hirmand River, 9 billion cubic meters of water flowed into the Hamoun Wetlands but now it has decreased to 800 million cubic meters.”

The drying up of wetlands and rivers has led to the formation of dust and sand storm hotspots.

The government in Kabul is beginning the second phase of the development of the Kajaki Dam, the largest of its kind in Afghanistan, which could aggravate environmental problems in east and southeastern Iran.