Production sector leading Iran into water crisis

An impending water crisis that is threatening the whole world is expected to hit Iran first and worst, and it seems the legislative and executive branches are to blame for this bitter truth.

While urban and rural households are frequently called upon to save on drinking water, reports say that households are responsible for only 6 percent of the country’s total water consumption and the rest of the water is consumed by agriculture and industry, which seem to be free in consuming water since they need it to make money.

According to a high-ranking water management official who spoke to Trend on condition of anonymity, there has been virtually “no plan” to curb water consumption in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

The country is facing a case of “domestic sanctions” that keep it from fighting the crisis, an Iranian MP said, Trend correspondent reported from Tehran Sept. 28.

Governments, parliaments, banks, customs administrations, the Social Security Organization, etc. all have hands in imposing these sanctions, Member of the Parliament’s Energy Commission Hossein Zolanvar said in response to a question by Trend during a water management conference held on the sidelines of the 11th International Water and Wastewater Exhibition of Iran.

“If the attitude of such organizations is not changed, nothing will change. I have been heading the Energy Commission for eleven years. During this time, we have only succeeded in materializing a few objectives,” he said.

“The future world war is one about water. Iraq and Turkey are engaged in a dispute over water right now. We are in a dispute over water with Iraq and with Afghanistan which has intercepted the Helmand River and dried up our Sistan and Baluchestan province.”

/By Trend/