Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 11
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran has allocated $8 billion to harness surface waters.
Iranian MP Mohammad Taqi Tavakkoli said that out of the total $10 billion, allocated for implementation of water projects, some $8 billion was directed to harness surface waters, Iranian Fars news agency said Oct. 11.
Under the Iranian law, the government is not allowed to use the National Development Fund's (NDF) assets, but the country's supreme leader ordered the government to draw out $10 billion from the fund to implement water management projects.
On Sept. 17, Iran's First Vice-President Is'haq Jahangiri said some $10 billion from the NDF were allocated to water projects.
"It is a golden opportunity for the Energy Ministry," he said, adding that the ministry should take advantage of the opportunity to carry out the much needed projects, Fars news agency reported.
He further advised Iranians to cut their water consumption in order to avoid severe shortage.
On Feb. 19, Donya-ye Eqtesad daily quoted the Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian as saying that the situation of water resources in Iran passed beyond the critical condition.
"At present, 96 billion cubic meters of the country's total 120 billion cubic meters of renewable water resources is being consumed annually," he said, adding that if 40-60 percent of renewable water resources is consumed in any country, that country is said to be in a critical condition.