Farmers' protest rally in Isfahan continued on Wednesday
Images and news published on social media indicate that protest rallies by Isfahan farmers continued on Wednesday.
According to images published on Wednesday, April 12, farmers in eastern Isfahan gathered once again in Ziyar and Khorasgan to protest the failure to allocate their rights.
After the arrest of a farmer from "Ziyar" #Isfahan during today's Khorasgan demonstration, the Ziyar farmers took to the streets and blocked the road. pic.twitter.com/vV0iwTxCHM
— Shahrvandyar (@shahrvandyar) April 11, 2018
Messages posted on social media said that farmers were chanting: "Mourning is mourning today, mourning is a day today, the farmer's life is in the air today."
There have also been reports of the arrest of a farmer and a rally being held to protest his arrest.
The rally on Wednesday was held while farmers in eastern Isfahan had also held a protest rally in previous days.
Farmers in Isfahan gathered on Tuesday to protest the water crisis in the province and chanted slogans criticizing the government's performance.
In videos posted on some Telegram channels and confirmed by several Isfahan residents in an interview with VOA, the protesters demanded an investigation into their livelihoods and the return of their rightful water from the Zayandeh-e-Rud. The protesters, who are mostly farmers, chanted slogans such as: “If the water doesn’t flow, tomorrow will be the Day of Judgment,” “Isfahan with zeal, support support,” and “Victory from Allah and imminent victory, death to this government of deceitful people.”
This is the second protest rally by Isfahan farmers. They also held a rally in Khorasgan Square in Isfahan on Monday.
According to reports, during the farmers' rally on Monday, riot police were present on the streets and along the protest routes to confront the demonstrators, trying to block their movement.
The protests by Isfahan farmers have been escalating since March of last year. In one of these gatherings, protesting farmers turned their backs on the Friday prayer leader's podium and chanted protest slogans.
Closed session in parliament to discuss water crisis
On the other hand, on Wednesday, the Ministers of Energy and Agriculture, along with the head of the Environmental Organization, participated in a closed session of the parliament to report on the water crisis in Iran, which has become a major problem.
The spokesman for the parliamentary presidency said that in this meeting, a decision was made to form a "National Working Group on Adaptation to Water Shortages" headed by the First Vice President. The meeting examined the water shortage crisis in the country, focusing on the issue of the Dez Dam.
The issue of uncontrolled dam construction has been a controversial issue in Iran in recent years. Many believe that many dams were built without careful environmental studies in Iran's drought-stricken state.
Although there is a massive advertising campaign inside Iran to encourage people to consume less water, according to available statistics, 92 percent of water waste is related to the agricultural sector, which still cultivates crops using traditional, flooded methods.
On the eve of the summer season, many people are worried about the supply of drinking water to their homes. Hossein Ali Haji Deligani, a representative of the people of Shahinshahr in Isfahan, said that five million people in Isfahan will not have drinking water starting in August. In contrast, Behrouz Nemati, a spokesman for the presidium of the parliament, told IRNA that water rationing in the country is not an issue at all. In any case, the water crisis in Iran is an issue that is becoming more widespread day by day, and the central and dry plateau of Iran has a vague outlook.
Source: Voice of America
