Veep pledges to resolve water crisis via coordination, collaboration
The vice president of Iran warned about the country’s excessive water consumption, warning that if we continue with the current consumption trends and fail to manage it properly, we will face serious crises.
Mohammadreza Aref, speaking at the first meeting of the “Supreme Water Council” under the current administration, addressed the critical state of water resources after reviewing expert reports on climate conditions, the latest status of the country’s dam reserves, and discussions on land subsidence, drying lakes, and wetlands.
“Over the past six months, various meetings have been held to address different challenges, but what sets this meeting apart is that while other challenges had potential solutions, the water issue is a crisis – one that is far more complex than any other. Yet, we must find a solution for this crisis as well,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the heads of the Plan and Budget Organization, the Department of the Environment, the ministers of industry, mining, trade, agriculture, energy, as well as water experts.
Aref said, “ Our water resources are limited, and the damage caused to these resources due to poor management has led to the situation we see today.”
He pointed out that Iran is among the top 10 countries facing critical water shortages globally, adding, “Climatic conditions and low rainfall have exacerbated this problem, leading to crises in water reserves and groundwater levels.”
Aref stressed, “In this situation, we must find a solution to this crisis and resolve it. We know this imbalance is different from others, such as electricity, and our only hope lies in water management. However, we have not been successful in this area in recent decades.”
The VP noted that over 80% of water is consumed in the agricultural sector, yet there has been little success in controlling consumption.
“We still rely on flood irrigation and water-intensive crops, and for some products, despite their high water usage, we must continue due to their strategic importance and the employment they generate in the agricultural sector.”
Aref identified illegal wells as another major issue contributing to water waste, stating, “No success has been achieved in this area either. For example, while 20,000 wells may have been filled in the Lake Urmia basin or another region, 30,000 new illegal wells have been dug afterward.”
He emphasized, “We are currently in a water crisis and must manage and resolve it. We are confident we will overcome this challenge, but we need a plan and must be determined in its execution. We must set aside formalities and ensure that any decision we make is implemented. At the same time, the public must be educated on water consumption management.”
Aref expressed confidence that the shortages and challenges in this sector would be resolved through coordination and collaboration among relevant agencies.
“By addressing these issues, many potential disputes between provinces over water can be resolved. Our comprehensive plan is to move forward within the framework of the government’s overall goals and policies.”
During the meeting, the veep also called for careful consideration of the environmental water rights, particularly for wetlands, emphasizing that this is the right of nature and future generations.