Azerbaijan, Baku, April 23/Trend, T. Jafarov
A joint committee of the Parliament of Iran has approved the project of construction of canal from River Araz to Lake Urmiah, said Ahmed Alirza Beigi, head of the Eastern Azerbaijan province, Iranian news agency ISNA reported.
Following the project's approval, the construction of a canal from River Araz to Lake Urmiah will be accelerated. "Passing through the towns of Marand and Shabuster, the canal will fall into Lake Urmiah", said Beigi.
He said $2.5 million were invested in the canal's construction this year.
The area of Lake Urmiah is approximately 6,000 square kilometers. Migratory birds use this lake as a place of rest. Lake Urmiah gradually dries up as it shallows continuously and has it area decreasing. This affects either plants or animals.
Ecologists say the measures the Government of Iran will implement will not be sufficient to rescue the lake.
A project assuming direction of River Araz water toward steppe areas near Tebriz and Lake Urmiah was approved during the latest visit to the President of Iran and local governmental officials to Tebriz. It is planned to direct 600 million cubic meters of water from River Araz to Lake Urmiah.
Spokesman for the Parliament of Iran Ahmed Ali Keikha reported earlier that it is proposed to direct Caspian Sea water toward the lake to solve the problem of fall of water level in Lake Urmiah. The Parliament examines the proposal. Members of the Parliament's agriculture committee examined Lake Urmiah, said Keikha. "The level of water in Lake Urmiah falls for two reasons. First, this is a reduction of precipitation over the past decade and, second, this is a development of industrial facilities, which have increased water consumption", Keikha said.
Directing Caspian Sea water to Lake Urmiah is a project, which has not been examined yet, he said.
At present, every liter of water of Lake Urmiah contains 330 grams of salt. The figure was equivalent to 160-170 grams earlier. One third of the Lake's area has dried up and become alkaline lands.