Government Approves Transfer of Caspian Sea Water to Semnan Province, Rouhani’s Birthplace
Semnan’s representative announced the government’s approval for transferring Caspian Sea water to Semnan. However, representatives from northern provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan have opposed the transfer of Caspian water to the “birthplace province of the president” and deemed it “irresponsible.”
Ahmad Hamati, Semnan’s representative, said on Thursday, December 27 (6th of Dey) in an interview with FARS news agency that the Caspian Sea water transfer project is set to be implemented to resolve Semnan province’s water shortage problem.
Semnan’s representative announced the Hassan Rouhani government’s approval for transferring Caspian Sea water to Semnan. He added: “The Ministry of Energy has approved the transfer of this water and administrative discussions have been completed such that 215 environmental permits have been obtained in this regard and budget allocation for the executive operations of this project has been allocated.”
Hamati also proposed financing this project through the sale of water, which is considered a debt. Semnan’s representative also announced that companies have been consulted in this regard.
Rouhani’s Insistence on Transferring Caspian Water to Semnan
Hassan Rouhani previously, during a visit to Semnan, promised the province’s residents the transfer of Caspian Sea water to Semnan and said that “the government will support companies that participate in this national project.”
The transfer of Caspian Sea water to Iran’s central plateau was particularly discussed during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency, and this project became his “strategic project.” Ahmadinejad traveled to Mazandaran province in 2012 to inaugurate this project. However, criticism from experts and environmental activists and opposition from parts of the government, including the country’s Environmental Organization, prevented the project from being implemented.
Now, six years have passed since the inauguration of this project. However, the intensification of the water crisis, especially in Semnan province, the birthplace of Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, has once again prompted officials to reconsider this project. Some parliamentary representatives, including representatives from northern provinces such as Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, have strongly opposed the “transfer of Caspian Sea water to the president’s birthplace.”
Valiollah Nanavakili, in an interview with ISNA, criticized the government’s performance in “special attention to Semnan,” saying that Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan, Isfahan, and Yazd provinces face far more severe water problems compared to Semnan. While emphasizing that “the president does not belong to a particular province and his birthplace,” he said: “The government should approach all provinces of the country fairly, taking into account the phenomenon of drought and water scarcity, and avoid discriminatory approaches.”
This parliamentary representative warned that if the project to transfer Caspian Sea water to Semnan is implemented, the Caspian Sea will face the fate of Lake Urmia and will bring irreparable environmental problems to northern provinces.
Source: DW
