Iran to undertake 20 water supply projects at a cost of $4.1bn

The Iranian government has announced its plans to implement 20 water supply projects across the country at a total cost of IRR52tn ($4.1bn).

The projects have been planned to be implemented in the current Iranian year, which started on 21 March 2013, reported Iran Daily.

Iran Energy Minister Majid Namjou was quoted by the publication as saying that the level of precipitation has increased by 15% since the beginning of the Iranian year, compared to the levels in the same period last year, and stressed the importance of efficient water usage.

Praising the implementation of the water transfer project from Dez River to Qomroud River, the Minister said that Iran is an arid nation and valuable resources such as water should be used in the best possible way.

Many vital infrastructure projects in the country have become operational in the current year.

Once such project is the Bakhtiari Dam, which at 325m high is the tallest concrete dam in Iran.

Additionally, the Gotvand-e Olya Dam, inaugurated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is said to be one of the most important water projects in the country.

The projects are expected to help Iran meet its water supply challenges as the nation received only 203mm of rain since 23 September 2012.

In February 2011, Iran opened the Mamlow Dam on the Jajrood River, 45km east of Tehran. The dam supplies drinking water to Tehran and irrigation water to farms in Varamin and Pakdasht.

In May 2010, Iran inaugurated what it claims to be the country’s largest drinking water project with an investment of $1.3bn in the south-western city of Khorramshahr, in Khuzestan Province.

The project will supply drinking water to 4.7 million residents in 21 towns and 12 villages in the province.

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Image: Iran to implement water projects at a cost of $4.1bn to improve water supply in the country. Photo: Pemanducomm.