SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A lawmaker warned on Wednesday of contamination of water in Darbandikhan lake, amid risks of water shortages in the Kurdistan Region.
Member of Kurdistan Parliament Ali Hama Salih said the lake had been contaminated and that could cause diseases including cancer.
“The remains of refineries, oilfields, and nitric acid in Tanjaro, Sulaimani and Iran enter Darbandikhan lake,” the lawmaker said in a communique he sent to the parliament.
“The water is then supplied to civilians without being filtered,” he added.
“According to tests, the water is not useful for drinking or anything else, and causes skin diseases,” the lawmaker stated.
He called on the Kurdistan parliament to ask the regional government about the new project of Darbandikhan water which has yet to be completed and contamination of the water which poses a “big risk” on humanity.
Earlier on Wednesday, authorities in Sulaimani warned of water shortages in the Kurdistan Region due to low rainfalls this year.
The directorate of water in Sulaimani said the Region would face water shortages if the rate of rainfalls in 2022 was similar to this year’s rate.
“All will be in hardship,” it added.
It called on the government and other related institutions to find solutions to water shortages.
