Protest Gathering Over Water Access in Zahedan

Sara.Kh. FCN News Agency: Access to drinking water for residents of Sistan and Baluchestan requires paying heavy costs for purchasing purified water from water tankers. However, in recent weeks, this process has also faced price increases, making access even more limited than before.

According to FCN News Agency reports, in recent months, water price increases have confronted residents of this province with numerous problems, and most households lack the financial means to provide the drinking water they need. Especially since piped drinking water in this region of the country is undrinkable due to its poor taste and odor, and being forced to consume it has created concerns among the people.

This problem is particularly acute in the villages of Sistan and Baluchestan. According to an FCN News Agency correspondent’s report, currently residents of more than three thousand villages in this province use water sources shared by humans and animals. This too faces limitations due to successive droughts.

This is while due to the deterioration of the rural water distribution network, more than 60 percent of water is wasted in the network in this province, and the Ministry of Power has not taken action to improve water supply facilities.

The lack of access routes to a large portion of Sistan and Baluchestan villages is another problem that has made it impossible for residents to access purified water via tanker.

A limited number of villages receive water supply by tanker, and in most villages, due to distance and difficult terrain, tanker transportation is not feasible.

Now, with water tanker operators withdrawing from service, drinking water distribution in Sistan and Baluchestan has faced difficulties.

Since the beginning of the current month of Aban, a staggering increase in water prices has dealt a heavy blow to consumers and tanker operators.

Meanwhile, the price increase of purified water in Zahedan has prompted protest reactions from water tanker drivers. In protest gatherings, they have called for price controls.

According to Hrana News Agency reports, consumed water suddenly increased from six thousand tomans per cubic meter (one thousand liters) to ten thousand tomans, which essentially means a price increase for water in the city.