TEHRAN: On Friday, thousands of people, including a large population of farmers, protested on the streets of Isfahan over the drying of the Zayandeh Rood riverbed. The protestors were outraged at the government’s negligence as the water crisis became the central issue of the country.
According to journalists covering the riot, the Zayandeh Rood river was drying up for the past 20 years, but the authorities took no action. The protestors claimed that the government had captivated their water and turned East Isfahan into barren land. They said that other than drought, the river was diverted to Yazd province causing additional problems.
Energy Minister of Iran Ali-Akbar Mehrabian has extended apologies to farmers in the face of water crisis. First Vice-President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber has said that the government would take notice of the issue and resolve the problems of farmers.
“I have ordered the ministers of energy and agriculture to take immediate steps to deal with the issue,” said the vice-president.
According to a report by the space agency of Iran, the water crisis in the country has become a major issue for the past two years as the water level in reservoirs and lakes is dropping consistently.
