Azerbaijan, Baku, Jun.16/ Trend F.Milad/
Iran has taken special measures to save Urmia Lake from getting dried, energy Minister Majid Namjou said.
He told the Mehr News Agency that the projects aiming to transfer water to the Urmia Lake will be expedited. The parliament has allocated sums to this issue and it is hoped that two projects would be inaugurated by the end of the year, he noted.
"Transferring water from border rivers to the Urmia Lake is another plan. We are negotiating with neighboring countries in this regard and the studies are underway," he said.
The area of Lake Urmia is about 6000 square kilometres. During bird migration the lake becomes their temporary haven. Due to prolonged drought what happens in the Urmia shallows, affects the flora and fauna of the surrounding region. Environmental specialists noted that measures taken by the Iranian government are not enough to rescue the lake.
Currently, each litre of water in Lake Urmia contains 330 grams of salt. Previously, the figure stood at 160-170 grams per litre. Increase in the salt concentration is due to the fact that one-third of the lake dried up and actually turned into salt marshes.
Director of the Environmental Protection Organization Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh announced in May that constructing dams on rivers which pour into the Urmia Lake is banned.
"On the order of the president, the construction of any new dam in this region is banned," Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh told reporters.
He said that 19 dams have been constructed at the lake over the years, which hold up 1.8 billion cubic meters of water for agricultural and industrial, and housing purposes.