Delay in Releasing Water from Zayandeh Rud; Farmers in Isfahan Start the New Year with Losses

The head of the Agricultural Guild Chamber of Isfahan County reported a delay in the release of water from the Zayandeh Rud, stating that this has caused significant damage to farmers in eastern Isfahan. According to the website "Khabar Online," Hussein Vahida mentioned that the failure to adhere to commitments by the regional water company regarding the timely release of Zayandeh Rud water has led to protests from farmers. Meanwhile, following these protests, the state news agency IRNA quoted the deputy for protection and exploitation of the Isfahan regional water company, stating that the increase in the output of the Zayandeh Rud dam began on the morning of the 3rd of Farvardin (March 23) and that water was released in the dry sections of the river to distribute part of the water rights to farmers in eastern Isfahan. In response to this action, the head of the Agricultural Guild Chamber of Isfahan County told IRNA that farmers are still protesting the regional water company's failure to release Zayandeh Rud water on time, and the reopening of the Zayandeh Rud was achieved through the efforts and requests of farmers in eastern Isfahan. Reports indicate that farmers around the Zayandeh Rud have a share of the water from this river, and the non-payment of their water rights has always been a contentious issue. In this context, the Zayandeh Rud was reopened on the 20th of Aban (November 10) last year for the autumn planting of farmers in the province and the first irrigation of fields, but the flow was cut off again after water was allocated to agricultural lands. The result of the Islamic Republic's mismanagement in the water sector has become one of the challenges for the people of Iran, such that the Zayandeh Rud, with a length of over 400 kilometers, has turned into a river with periodic flow due to excessive withdrawals, water transfer to other basins, population density, and to some extent, a relative decrease in rainfall, with a significant portion of it drying up in the summer. Special program: World Water Day. Continuation of water tensions between Iran and the Taliban; water industry spokesman: The Taliban has not provided Iran with its water rights from the Helmand. Warning from the Water Resources Management Company: The lowest rainfall year in the past 86 years has occurred. Increase in water crisis; "55 percent" of dam reservoir capacity is empty.