In an unannounced trip to Alborz Province, the President visited two water supply projects, a road construction project, and the latest status of the Karaj Dam's water reserves. In a meeting with relevant provincial officials, he discussed ways to accelerate the implementation of the projects visited.
According to Ashura News, citing ISNA, Masoud Peshkian traveled to Alborz Province on Thursday afternoon and first visited the implementation stages of the new water transfer line from Ziaran Dam to Bilqan. He was briefed on the details of the project by the governor and those involved in the implementation of the project.
According to the explanations of the implementers, this project has 5 percent implementation progress and is capable of transferring 6.5 cubic meters of water per second, which, in addition to the 5 cubic meter capacity of the old water transfer line, will enable the annual transfer of 300 million cubic meters of water to Alborz and Tehran provinces.
The sustainable water transfer line from Ziaran to Bilqan had 27 percent progress in the three years of the 13th government, and with the attention and support of the 14th government, its progress has reached 70 percent in 8 months. This project is a strategic plan for the future and one of the key projects in the field of drinking water supply for the metropolitan cities of Tehran and Karaj, which is being implemented with the support of the 14th government and the Ministry of Energy.
The President also visited the Mahestan City Water Treatment Plant project in Savojbolagh County, which is 100 percent complete and ready for operation. It has a treatment capacity of 105 liters of water per second and 90,000 liters per day to provide drinking water to Savojbolagh, Nazarabad, and Eshtehard counties in western Alborz Province.
Pezzekian then visited the top of the Ziaran Dam and inspected its latest status. He was informed about the details of the dam's water reserves by the governor and relevant officials.
In the current water year, dams supplying drinking water to Tehran and Alborz provinces have faced a significant decrease in reserves. Karaj Dam, with a drop of more than 60 percent, and Taleghan Dam, with a decrease of 33 percent compared to last year, are now in a fragile state.
During the visit, the President, in an interview with a reporter from the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, pointed out that all provincial and national officials are trying to prevent a crisis in the water supply for Tehran and Alborz provinces by accelerating the implementation of the new water transmission line. He expressed hope that people will also be as economical in water consumption as possible until a stable water situation is achieved, and that necessary measures will be taken and implemented to improve the agricultural water consumption pattern in the region and throughout the country.
During this visit, Pezizkian also visited the Karaj Northern Freeway project and the bridges on the route, including B1 and B0, on the Karaj Northern Freeway (Martyr Soleimani), as the largest and most complex suspension bridge in the Middle East.
Construction of the Shahid Soleimani Freeway began in July 2016, continuing the Shahid Hemmat Freeway in northern Karaj. The project was supposed to be put into operation before 2014, but various obstacles, including lack of credit and the existence of conflicting properties, have delayed its completion.
Now, travelers from 14 provinces of the country, plus Alborz Province, are waiting for the completion of this freeway to relieve the traffic bottleneck in the Kalak area of Karaj, which is scheduled to be put into operation within the next three months.
During this visit, the President stated that he supports and pursues the Karaj Northern Freeway project as the country's highest priority road project, and stated: This project is a national pride and a symbol of "we can do it." What we see today on the B1 bridge is a masterpiece of Iranian engineering that was implemented with the support of domestic power and local knowledge and deserves appreciation.
Referring to the strategic importance of this freeway, Pezzekian added: The Karaj Northern Freeway project, with more than 85 percent physical progress, is one of the most important traffic projects in the country that will seriously play a role in reducing the traffic load of the Karaj metropolis and connecting the northern and central provinces more quickly.
The President also emphasized: The uninterrupted work of engineers, workers, and project managers in difficult conditions is truly worthy of appreciation.
During this trip, in a meeting with Alborz province managers, referring to the significant decrease in rainfall compared to the country's long-term average, Peshkian warned about the situation of water resources in Tehran and Alborz provinces, stating: "This year's rainfall trend has been about 40 to 44 percent lower than the country's long-term 80-year average, and this has had a direct impact on the volume of dam reserves. For example, the water level behind the Taleghan Dam has decreased sharply, which is a serious alarm for the supply of drinking water to the capital and surrounding cities."
The President added: "Efforts are being made around the clock by the Alborz Governor, relevant ministries, municipalities, and with the participation of the people, so that we can prevent more severe crises by urgently transferring water from the Taleghan Dam." The government decided to collect grasses that require daily irrigation, and in discussions with municipalities, it was emphasized that drought-resistant plant species should be used, in order to both preserve urban beauty and reduce water consumption.
Emphasizing the need for the current generation to be responsible for the future, Pezizian stated: Changing consumption patterns and utilizing smart and sustainable agriculture is an inevitable necessity to preserve the country's water resources and ensure life for future generations.
Referring to inter-sectoral and public cooperation, the President considered the most important solution to overcome these conditions to be extensive water conservation, and said: The noble people of Tehran, Karaj, and surrounding cities must be extremely careful about water consumption, because if the current resources are exhausted and groundwater is not managed, we will face a major crisis in the region.
The President also referred to the water crisis and the consequences of land subsidence and said: We are consuming resources that have no replacement; we are extracting groundwater that is hundreds of millions of years old and the land is sinking. Development that is not proportionate to natural resources will be catastrophic, so we must seek help from elites, professors, experts and the public to protect the environment.
Emphasizing that a people's government must move on a justice-oriented path, Pezizian said: Our art lies in solving the problems of those who are not seen; those who are on the margins, the poor, the deprived, the illiterate, the unemployed and women heads of households; if we cannot hear the voices of these people, we have not fulfilled our mission.
The President, appreciating the efforts of officials in managing crises, including the war imposed by the Zionist regime, stated: In the recent crisis, the country's executive bodies, medical forces, transportation, agriculture, energy and education were on the field with all their might. These efforts are commendable, but along with that, mistakes must also be identified and corrected.
Pezizian emphasized: All the discussions that are raised are to choose the best path. We should not only pay attention to those whose voices are louder. Justice means seeing those who are not seen. We must work with popular institutions, associations, samans, and local groups; they are also part of the people and their problems must be listened to.
Emphasizing the importance of the neighborhood-centric principle in local governance, the President stated: We must involve people in the administration of neighborhoods. Not just make decisions for them. Real participation must be formed from the heart of mosques, neighborhoods, and people's capacities.
Pezizian, referring to the need to use the capacity of the private sector and elites, added: I have said many times that the authority must be given to provinces and capable managers. The country is built by individuals, not one person. We must pave the way for the development of human resources. Whoever has the ability should have a field of action, with a scientific perspective, prudence and public participation.
In another part of his speech, the President also emphasized the need for change in education and said: The future of the country will be built by today's generation. If education is not right, no matter how hard we try, the country's infrastructure will be weak. We must use all scientific, executive and public power to improve the quality of education and school construction.
Pezizian stated: We are obliged to achieve the best for the people. Even if the final result is not in our hands, we have a duty to try as much as we can. Our country is full of talent, all we need to do is provide the foundation for growth and believe that we can.
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