IFP- “Despite all regulations against illegal consumption of well water, two-thirds of water supply is still harvested from wells,” noted Hamid Chitchian, the Energy Minister of Iran, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.

“If we continue to suck up the groundwater like this, someday we will run out of it and no more groundwater will be left in deserts. Gradual disappearance of Lake Urmia [in northwestern Iran] gives us a good example.”

He went on to say that Iranian government is responsible for coping with water crisis, conserving environmental waters, moderating the extraction of groundwater, and improving the energy efficiency.

“Due to the excessive harvest of groundwater resources, the government has plans to issue exploitation licences for wells and power them with electricity,” he added.