Around 78% Iranian Plains On Verge Of Destruction

Tehran, Sept 23, IRNA - Water and wastewater Deputy of the Energy Ministry says nearly 78% of the country’s plains are facing destruction due to the severe drop in capacity of subterranean water resources. Rahim Meydani said one of the main challenges in the country is destruction of subterranean water resources, adding: “These resources are our national asset which are on the verge of extinction and the only way out is to reduce consumption.” He further remarked that part of the destruction of these resources has been due to climate change and drought but the main reason is their overuse and even in the absence of drought the destruction would happen but at a lower scale. Pointing to the fact that consumption management has been ignored, Meydani said the Energy Ministry has devised a plan at Iran’s High Water Council with the theme restoring and balancing subterranean water resources. He said one of the approvals of the council has been about reduction of 25% of water consumption in the agriculture sector. Meanwhile, he added, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad has been assigned to regulate its macro plans with regard to the reform of patterns and irrigation methods in proportion with the amount of water at its disposal to an extent that both productivity will be improved and people's livelihood will not be jeopardized./end