The water crisis is another major challenge that Iran is facing, especially the people of the central and southern provinces of the country.
Currently, more than 11 cities in Khuzestan province are in a state of water shortage and about 700 villages do not have water piping and their water is supplied by tankers, which obviously cannot meet their minimum needs.
The state-run newspaper Setareh-e-Sobh described the causes of dehydration as a catastrophic disruption of environmental conditions and an ecosystem during four decades of the mullahs’ rule.
Setareh-e-Sobh wrote: “Leaving aside the experts and not listening to the warnings of experts and supporters of the environment in the last four decades, such as the construction of unprofessional dams, the construction of a road in the middle of Lake Urmia, a construction which began with shovels and pickaxes. After that, the process of the lake’s decline began, and despite the measures taken by governments to restore it, the lake has not yet returned to its previous state.
“Also, the dams that were built further the ‘Karkheh’ and ‘Dez’ dams and the manipulations that were done in nature have caused the ‘Zayandehrood’ to face drought and the protests of the farmers around this river can be heard.”
#IranProtests
Khuzestan—locals in Susangerd city marched protesting the #watercrisis and officials' failure to resolve the dilemma. pic.twitter.com/vlluXTLR3o— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) July 17, 2021
This daily then added: “Worse, instead of the Mobarakeh Steel Maker being built by the sea like Bandar Abbas, was built in Isfahan by ignoring the opinion of experts and creating problems for the people of Isfahan.” (Setareh-e-Sobh, July 18, 2021)
But what is more, a concern for officials is not the water shortage but the security crises which follow, and the regime must face it.
Mohamad Molavi, an MP, fearing the situation on July 18, 2021, while attacking the regime’s president said: “Rouhani is an exact example of disregard to Khuzestan, He must be afraid of the sighs of Khuzestani mothers and the tears of nomads. Look at the southern provinces of the country, Khuzestan is being destroyed and disorganization is rampant. It is worthless that you report at the end of the government. In this report, you blamed nature, low rainfall, and high heat. Talk about your lack of management and carelessness. You destroyed social capital.
“We are in the grip of reckless governments that have closed their eyes and sprinkled salt on our wounds. They have become irresponsible towards Khuzestan, and they should be afraid that the sighs and groans of the heartbroken mothers of Khuzestan and the affected villagers will overwhelm them.”
Majid Naserinejad, Member of the Energy Commission of the Parliament, fearing the consequences of this situation said: “Our expectation today was that the honorable Speaker of Parliament would hold an extraordinary emergency meeting about Khuzestan.
“The situation in Khuzestan is not really good. Let the head of government come here and answer. The first person of the government must come here and answer. The situation of the people is disturbed, their livestock has died, their lives have been destroyed, everything has been destroyed. Who should take care of this? Mr. Rouhani must answer.
#IranProtests
Khuzestan—farmers in Dezful city rallied in front of the local governorate protesting officials' failure to resolve the #watercrisis. pic.twitter.com/GqtmajVr3O— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) July 17, 2021
“How long do we have to wait for the crisis, wait for the problems, wait for the enemy to come in and cause chaos. Our situation is worrying. The enemy is plotting in Khuzestan continuously, and they are trying to trigger chaos there.”
The state-run daily Hamdeli on July 18, 2021, showed the regime’s fear and wrote: “At the meeting of the Khuzestan Crisis Management Coordination Council, warnings were repeated about the recurrence of events in 2017 and 2019.”
Hassan Shahvarpour, the commander of the Vali-e-Asr branch of the IRGC in Khuzestan, warned on Friday, July 16, 2021, about the formation of a crisis in the province at a meeting of the Khuzestan Crisis Management.
He said: “Our problem today in Khuzestan province is related to the people who are waiting to cultivate, and their bread is dependent on the agriculture that is not profitable. Given the current situation of water scarcity in Khuzestan province, the ground for a social crisis is taking shape and the social crisis is driving the security crisis. If this situation is not managed and we do not move properly, the consequences will be like the crises of 2017 and 2019.” (ISNA, July 16, 2021)
Source » irannewsupdate