Isfahan Farmers Protest Looming Water Shortages

Farmers in the city of Isfahan have held a fresh rally outside the courthouse over water shortages after a wave of regular mass protests last year.

Videos posted online showed a group of locals protesting on Monday, April 6. A speaker variously blamed the public prosecutor, the chief of police and the former governor of Isfahan for failing to make good on promises to support people, and for allowing the drying-up of the Zayanderud riverbed.

The Isfahan agricultural community has struggled to get by for years as a combination of over-drawing and water transfer projects have led to chronic water shortages particularly in the spring and summer.

Hossein Vahida, a board member of Isfahan Farmers’ Union, had warned on Sunday against the closure of a stream flow into the Zayanderud. If it took place as planned in 10 days’ time, he said, “cultivation in eastern Isfahan will be severely damaged and may fail.”

.To ensure a wheat harvest this year, he said, the water should be allowed to flow until at least June 20. Isfahan’s deputy governor for civil coordination, Mehran Zeinalian, has already stated this will not be possible.