Economic, social considerations must be regarded in case of Lake Urumieh

Urmiyeh, W Azarbaijan prov., Nov 16, IRNA – Agriculture Jihad Minister Mahmoud Hojjati said the government insists on consideration of regional social and economic aspects in solving the problem of Lake Urmiyeh. Addressing a provincial session, Hojjati said a solution to Lake Urmiyeh problem rests in cooperation of people and the government. In cases in which all have come to the scene success has been achieved, he reaffirmed. He underlined the need for paying attention to modern irrigation systems and said with regard to the limitation of water resources grounds should be prepared for modern irrigation in the region. Hojjati further remarked that by using modern irrigation systems with minimum amount of water proper income could be generated for the regional people in the agriculture sector. Meanwhile, Issa Kalantari who is the executer of the plan for the revival of Lake Urmiyeh said it was a very hard task to accomplish, however it is among government programs. Pointing to the fact that all proposals of the headquarters for the revival of Lake Urmiyeh have been approved by the government, Kalantari said the government is firm towards revival of the lake and scientifically possibilities exist for this purpose. He said rain falls this year greatly helped to prevent further aggravation of the condition of the lake. Another participant in the session, Urmiyeh Friday prayer leader Hojatoleslam Seyed Mehdi Qoreishi said West Azarbaijan is a special province and needs more attention from the government. Appreciating government's attention to Lake Urmiyeh he said revival of the lake is one of the basic problems in the region and calls for specific policies./end