River Zayandeh Rud has become waterless leaving behind thousands of Isfahanian stranded off
The River Zayandehrood, or Zayandeh Rud, is the largest river in Central Iran which travels for 400 kilometres from the Zagros mountains to the city of Isfahan, Tehran, (Iran); ‘A life-giving river’ known for quenching the thirst of hundreds of millions of Iranian people, which has been on the verge of dying out for last several years eventually dried up leaving behind the sand, dust and stones.
The main reasons for the drying up of the riverbed are less rainfall and wrong management of irrigation plans by the Authorities.
The city has been facing water shortage and drought for the last several years. The Government administrative officials have promised to devise the solutions in the past but nothing more has been changed. The Zayandeh Rud River satisfies the need for water for irrigation in the agricultural fields, Industries, drinking and domestic purposes. The waterless river is directly affecting the lacs of stranded farmers protesting to the demand of revival of the river that plays a lifesaver for the people.
There are many people in the city blaming the Central Government. According to them, Central Government people had diverted the reservoir to other drought cities of Yazd and Kerman which have created an additional burden on the existing water reservoir to supply water to Isfahan. There may be other reasons for the dehydration of river bed flow over the years but it is obvious to note lesser rainfall, wrong policies of the Government with regards to Environmental management combines with the channelisation of river water to some other drier provinces has fuelled up the process of extinction of River Zayandeh Rud.
The farmers and the city residents now have gathered on a waterless barren riverbed to mark their protest for the revival of the river Zayandeh Rud.
