The Iran regime’s insistence on pointless dam construction and the diversion of the rivers has dried up another river in Iran.
The springs of Qalikuh and Oshtrankouh of Zagros are the headwaters of the Caesar and Bakhtiari rivers. The confluence of these two small rivers is forming a bigger river named Dez River which is flowing through the Khuzestan Province.
This river passes through Andimeshk, Dezful, Shousha, and Shushtar cities and irrigates agricultural lands, and provides drinking water to these areas, finally joining the Karun River.
Due to mismanagement of the Karkheh River, through nonstandard dam construction, this river is dried up. Therefore, the regime was forced to divert the Dez River to the regions watered by this river, and this river dried up as well.
In this regard, the Mehr News Agency wrote: “Mismanagement of water resources and, as well as uncontrolled dam construction, play a major role in the drying up of Karkheh. With the critical situation of the Karkheh River for the second consecutive year, the water supply plan to the cities and villages of Khuzestan was provided from the Dez River according to the ‘Ghadir Plan’. Now, this water crisis has reached the Dez River after Karkheh, and this river has dried up.”
The state-run daily Iran added: “In recent days, environmental activists, and residents of the downstream of the Dez River in the Shoaibiyeh area of Shushtar in northern Khuzestan have released videos depicting the catastrophe of the Dez River drying up. Criticizing the reduction in the outflow of the Dez Dam of the river upstream, they launched the hashtag ”#حقابه_دز_را_آزاد_کنید ” (free the water right of Dez) and demanded the flow of water in the Dez River.”
Another factor that has reduced the water levels of this river is the high consumption of industrial plants, which are under the control of the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the related private companies.
The state-run daily Fararu referred to the destruction caused by these factories and companies: “Increased water consumption by sugarcane crops and industries, including Haft Tappeh, Miyan Ab, Dehkhoda and Shoaibiyeh sugarcane crops in summer, is reducing the water of this river.”
Another factor in the drying up of the Dez River is the project of transferring water from the tributaries of Dez to Qom and Arak. So far, three water transfer projects have been implemented, called Qamroud 1 and 2 and Kamal Saleh Dam with a volume of 365 million cubic meters.
The drying up of the Dez River is putting agriculture in these areas in crisis. Many villages are exposed to water shortages.
Fararu added: “Shoaibiyeh section of Shushtar has more than 50 villages, of which about 10 villages are located the downstream of this river, including the villages of ‘Chois’, ‘Abutoyur’ and ‘Beit Fanian’ and have been grappling with complete dryness of the river.”
The director of the Romaneh Environmental Association told IRNA: “It has been about a week since the Dez River in the downstream close the villages of Shoaibiyeh district has dried up completely such that the riverbed is visible. “We have been facing water shortages for several years and the water of the Dez River has decreased a lot in recent months, but this is the first time that the river has dried up completely.”
Currently, the water supply to the villages of this region has been cut off. Rural water pumps cannot collect water, and people are forced to use the river water residue for washing and sanitation.
According to media reports, so far, no action has been taken by the regime’s officials other than making hollow promises.
In an interview with IRNA, the governor of Shushtar said: “I sent a message to the director of the Khuzestan Water and Electricity Organization and asked him to investigate this issue and announce the results because he is in charge of the
