Rahim Meidani, deputy minister of energy, said Lake Urmia will receive 180mcm of water once the project of connecting the two rivers in West Azerbaijan, Zarrinehrud in and Siminehrud, is completed.
“This project is one of the biggest projects to revive Lake Urmia which is currently underway in Miandoab County,” said Meidani.
He added that the new project involves dredging and connecting Mahabad, Godar and Zarrinehrud rivers to Siminehrud, which can supply 180 million cubic meters of water to Urmia Lake each year.
“Due to marine regression in Lake Urmia, this amount of water used to be spread thin on the dry surface of the lake and vaporize. This new project, however, will prevent the amount of water loss in a year and bring the water back into the lake,” he said.
According to Meidani, the budget considered for the implementation of the project is estimated at $10 million; “the project has already underwent 60 percent physical progress and will be completed by this September,” he said.
Meidani expressed hope that within a 10 year span of time the water in Lake Urmia will reach its ecological level.
Located between the provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan, the saltwater lake, one of the largest on the planet, is on the brink of a major environmental disaster due to its highly endangered ecosystem. Many blame climate change and dam construction to be the cause of the environmental issue.
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