...

Iran: Azerbaijan’s planned island harms Caspian

Iran Materials 18 February 2012 14:26 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 18 / Trend M. Moezzi /

The island Azerbaijan plans to build in the Caspian Sea will redirect the water, increase its turbidity and destroy the region's marine life, Mehr news agency quoted an environmental protection official as saying.

Azerbaijan's project calls for an artificial island big enough for a population of 700,000 people. The biggest damage the construction of it could cause is greater water turbidity as sediment particles become suspended, said Abdolreza Karbasi, a deputy director at Iran's Department of Environment. Cloudy water means less sunlight and less oxygen while the sediment can harm the fish.

Work on the island will bring a large population of people to the area. Without the necessary infrastructure, man-produced pollution like sewage and trash will further damage already polluted Caspian Sea.

Iran and Azerbaijan are negotiating over the issues, Mr. Karbasi said.

Tags:
Latest

Latest