Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) industrial projects and government’s poor management has caused a huge drought in Zayandehrud, local farmers told Avatoday.
Esfahan’s Zayandehrud is the largest and main water source for agriculture in the central part of Iran.
Farmers, especially in the central province of Isfahan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari that are most affected by the draught, have been protesting for two years.
Mobarakeh Steel Complex, Esfahan’s Steel Company, and Yazd's Steel company, all belonging to IRGC, are the instant water consumers of Zayandehrud that have put the river on gradual death.
Two government projects that transfer water from Zayandehrud for urban usage of nearby provinces, are another reason behind the crisis.
The first project was established during Mohammad Khatami’s presidency that transfer millions of cubic meters of the river to Yazd. The second one was inaugurated by Ahmadinejad transferring 40 million cubic meters from Zayandehrud.
Numerous rallies have been held over the last two years by the locals, and particularly by the farmers of the region, in protest to what they call the "Water Mafia". They believe that water transfer projects are not implemented for the urban supply of (drinking) water, but for use by industries, specifically the steel industry.
These tensions between locals and authorities have increased on Saturday as a number of people attempted to set fire to the equipment and vehicles used by one of the project contractors.
Some experts consider the water crisis to be the biggest crisis facing Iran in the future, a situation that would seriously endanger the lives of Iranians.
