Water storage behind Khuzestan dams decreased; Karkheh power plant removed from electricity generation circuit
While the people of Khuzestan are struggling with dust these days and are having a hard time breathing in the province's hot air, experts are warning of water shortages and power outages throughout the spring and summer in this province and neighboring provinces.
According to the state-run IRNA news agency, the deputy head of the Khuzestan Water and Electricity Organization stated that the volume of water behind the Karkheh Dam has decreased by 1.6 billion cubic meters compared to the same period last year, and said: "If we do not manage water resources and consumption, we will face problems in meeting the province's vital water needs, including people's drinking water ."
The current water level in the Karkheh Dam is 19 meters lower than last year. This is despite the fact that Khuzestan officials announced last year that "the useful volume of the Karkheh Dam has decreased by 70 percent compared to normal conditions."
Nik Ahang Kowsar, a geologist and water journalist, told VOA that "Karkheh Dam and other dams in Khuzestan Province are in very bad condition due to reduced rainfall and drought, as well as reckless exploitation of the province's rivers."
Stating that the diversion and excessive use of Karkheh water and the lack of allocation of water rights have caused excessive drought in the Great Plains and increased the dust phenomenon in the south of the country, Kausar added: "The governments' disregard for geological and environmental studies in the construction of dams and climate change has caused water shortage and environmental problems throughout the country, which will worsen if the current trend continues . "
The director of reservoir planning for dams and rivers at the Khuzestan Water and Electricity Organization also warned about the reduction in electricity production from the province's dams in an interview with ISNA .
Ali Sharifi stated that the country's electricity supply from the Karun Basin is currently in inappropriate conditions, adding: "The Karkheh Dam power plant has been completely removed from the electricity generation circuit due to the lowering of the water level ."
The Karkheh Dam, Iran's largest dam, was supposed to prevent devastating floods in Khuzestan Province and generate 934 gigawatt hours of electricity annually.
Source: Voice of America
