In response to criticism of the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company for cutting water to schools, the company announced in a statement that this action was taken 'within the legal framework' and for the 'protection of groundwater resources in the capital.' The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with security institutions in Iran, reported that in recent weeks, water has been cut off to dozens of public schools in Tehran due to debts. However, the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company believes that the water cut to about 40 schools in districts 8 and 18 of Tehran municipality was due to their 'non-compliance' with the law regarding the purchase of 'connection rights' and that the 'water cut was legal.' The statement further mentioned that public schools owe over 600 billion tomans for wastewater connection rights and that approximately two thousand public schools in the capital have not yet connected to the sanitary sewage collection network and have ignored the company's notices and warnings regarding obtaining sewage connections. The company claimed that the water cut to many schools in Tehran was in line with maintaining health standards, protecting the environment, and preventing pollution and the infiltration of human sewage into the groundwater of Tehran province. This statement comes despite the fact that the CEO of the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company’s district 2 had stated the previous day that schools are not a priority for water cuts and charging for connection fees. Ali Khairandish claimed that 'they were indifferent to the warnings' and that 'their water was cut off for hours to show that these warnings are not just on paper.' On the other hand, the director of education in district 8 of Tehran criticized this behavior of the water company, stating that the requested amount for sewage connection for schools is substantial and given the lack of per capita funding, 'public schools cannot afford to pay it.' Fars news agency also reported that these events have created challenges for schools, noting that the governor of Tehran, Alireza Fakhari, had stated last year that 'no organization has the right to cut off utilities to schools' and that water company managers should communicate any issues so that the reasons for unpaid debts can be examined.
Tehran Water Company Defends Water Cut to Schools; Claims Action Was Taken 'Within Legal Framework'
The Tehran Water and Wastewater Company has defended its decision to cut water to dozens of public schools due to unpaid debts, claiming it was a legal action necessary for environmental protection. The move has sparked criticism from education officials who argue that the fees are unaffordable for schools. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between municipal services and educational institutions in Tehran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Tehran Water and Wastewater Company cut water to about 40 public schools due to unpaid debts related to sewage connection rights, claiming the action was legal and necessary for environmental protection. This decision has faced backlash from education officials who argue that the fees are too high for schools to afford.
- Public schools in Tehran owe over 600 billion tomans for wastewater connection rights.
- Approximately 2,000 public schools have not connected to the sanitary sewage collection network.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In Iran, public schools often struggle with funding, and the government has been criticized for not adequately supporting educational institutions. The management of water resources is also a critical issue in a country facing environmental challenges.
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