Rouhani's absurd solutions to Iran's water crisis

Rouhani's absurd solutions to Iran's water crisis

Iran's water crisis

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Jan. 3, 2019 - One of the crises that struck Iran with the coming of the mullahs is water shortage problems. This crisis has intensified in the past years and has become the source of social, ethnic and even security problems in Iran. In recent years, the water crisis has struck people across the country. Thousands of villages have become deserted because of water shortage problems and their inhabitants have migrated to margins of large cities, where they live in utter poverty and misery.

In urban areas, the situation isn’t much better. In some cities, instead of pure, clear water, the people have to do with muddy water coming out of their homes’ pipes. In some cases, not even the muddy water is available. In the summer, the situation gets worse.

In Ahvaz city, through which passes Karun, Iran’s largest river, the citizens’ water looks nothing like purified, drinkable water and is filled with mud and minerals.

But even more outrageous than the regime’s corrupt policies that have led to the creation and exacerbation of the water crisis are its so-called plans to solve the problem.

On Tuesday, Iranian regime president Hassan Rouhani held a meeting with the authorities of the energy ministry and gave plenty of promises and orders to solve the country’s water problems. But those promises sound more hollow and absurd than ever.

“We shouldn’t let any problems bother the people. The people shouldn’t become upset,” Rouhani said in the meeting, which he called after his government’s inefficiency in solving the water crisis was criticized even by officials and personalities closely tied to the regime.

“The education ministry and the teachers should come to the aid of the energy ministry in saving water and electricity,” Rouhani said, suggesting that water shortage problems stem from lack of education.

In his meeting, Rouhani also made the laughable suggestion of transferring farming activities to other countries. “For some fruits and vegetables, or other farming goods, is it better to produce them inside the country or transfer the production to beyond our borders?” Rouhani said. “Let’s rent lands from another country. Maybe there’s plenty of water there. It would be cheaper.”

Rouhani had previously stated in the Iranian regime’s parliament that he was thinking of all the country’s provinces and will solve all the problems.

“Without a doubt, we are thinking of all the provinces of the country. In every part of the country, water is an important issue and we must solve these problems,” Rouhani said.

Addressing the MPs, Rouhani said, “The budget is at your disposal. Do what you must and we will take the necessary measures if you allow.”

Rouhani’s remarks caused outrage in the parliament, even though he enjoys support from the majority of MPs.

Rouhani has made these remarks while several of the country’s provinces are suffering from severe water shortage. Isfahan is a stark example, where thousands of farmers have been constantly protesting over the mismanagement of water sources and the government’s theft of their rights to water.

The government has tried to circulate the problem to avoid a permanent solution. For example, it has transferred the water of Isfahan to neighboring Yazd to solve the water problems in that province. This measure has disrupted the ecosystem of Isfahan and has dealt a heavy blow to the farming industry of the provinve. The regime now suggests transfering water from Khuzestan to Isfahan. Khuzestan is already reeling from the effects of the excessive dam creation projects by the Revolutionary Guards, which is using the province’s water for its own purposes. And while the entire country is faced with potable water problems, Rouhani is suggesting to transfer water from the Caspian Sea to Semnan and Markazi provinces. As a result, the MPs, who fear protests in their provinces, are outraged by Rouhani’s irrational plans.

The plans of the Iranian regime’s president are so ridiculous that even his own vice president Eshaq Jahangiri said the president’s suggestions have no executive backing.

And this is how the water crisis continues. What is obvious is that these problems won’t be solved while a corrupt regime is ruling in Iran. At least, the people of Iran, who in the past year have been protesting over water problems in increasing numbers, have no illusion as to the regime’s inefficiency and incapability to solve the water crisis.