Iran sets to direct Araz River water to Urmia Lake

Necessary environmental and technical permissions for the implementation of the project for transfer of Araz River's water to Lake Urmia have already been received, the economic evaluation of the project have been carried out and its implementation will begin soon, a member of Iranian parliament's presidium Alireza Munadi said on Feb.12, the Iranian ?RNA agency reported.

Munadi said that the contractor companies in this project have already been determined; investments for the implementation of the project will be provided by a German company. Currently, preparatory works for the implementation of the project are underway and the project will be launched by the end of the year (a year In Iran begins on March 21), according to Munadi.

The member of the Iranian parliament's presidium also stressed that around $1.2 billion will be invested in the project.

Lake Urmia covers nearly 6,000 square kilometers of area. During the migration of migratory birds, the lake becomes their temporary home. Because of the prolonged drought, Urmia shallows, having an impact on the flora and fauna of the region.

Lake Urmia must have some 32 billion cubic meters of water, however, today the half of it shallows.