Tehran, Iran, Oct.16
Trend:
Iranian Department of Environment (DOE) has called for new studies on the Caspian Sea Water Transmission to Semnan Province Plan, Iran's Minister of Energy Reza Ardakaniyan told reporters following the meeting of the Cabinet on Oct. 16, Trend reports citing IRNA.
"Neither absolute nor conditional agreement on the project to transfer Caspian Sea water to Semnan Province has been reached at the meeting between representatives of DOE and the ministry with three officials of the Mazandan and Semnan provinces,” said Ardakaniyan.
"The plan is still at the same stage as before, and new research and data on the matter were requested at this meeting," the minister added.
“According to the law, large projects related to water resources, require prior approval of the Ministry of Energy. After that, the Department of Environment is legally obliged to review the project and issue an environmental permit. Then the ministry can take further steps,” he noted.
In his words, the project on the water transfer from the Caspian Sea to central provinces of the country was initially approved back in 2012, but no tangible progress has been achieved so far, while DOE was expected to make a decision.
Referring to the discussions over the issue in the parliament, the minister said: "Further talks with MPs are needed to explain them the case."
The plan to transfer water via a pipeline to Semnan Province has been promoted to solve its water shortage, while the Department of Environment is still reviewing data and information to decide the volume of water transfer.
The Iranian Department of Environment is a governmental organization, under the supervision of the president, that is responsible for matters related to safeguarding the environment.