SULAIMANI (ESTA) — As many as 16 dams have remained uncompleted in the Kurdistan Region due to a lack of budget, despite warnings of drought and shortages of water because of low rainfalls and a halt of water flow from neighboring countries.
Water levels in Dukan and Darbandikhan dams have dropped to below 50 percent due to low rainfalls and a decrease of water flow from neighboring countries, particularly Iran, according to authorities.
Despite the threat of water crisis, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has taken slower steps to solve the issue, as 90 percent of the dams planned to be constructed in the past 10 years has remained unfinished.
General Director of Dams in the Kurdistan Region Akram Ahmed said works in the 16 dams designed to be built in the Region had been halted due to a lack of budget.
“Whenever there is a budget, we can build many dams. We don’t have any technical problem,” Ahmed told Esta Media Network.
Dewana Dam, located near Darbandikhan district south of Sulaimani city, is one of the reservoirs that are still unfinished. Authorities began to build the dam in 2011, but it is left unfinished, even though 95% of its works has been completed.
Iran has built a dozen dams on the Little Zab and Sirwan River, which are the main sources of water for Dukan and Darbandikhan dams in the Kurdistan Region.
On Tuesday, the Sirwan Revival Campaign Group warned that the Sirwan river was running dry due to “irresponsible authority” in the Garmian administration.
The river has largely dried up due to low rainfalls this winter and Iranian dam construction upstream.
Rahman Khani, director of Darbandikhan Dam, said there had been no agreements or memorandum of understanding between Iraq and Iran on the issue.
“So far, there has been no productive meeting with the Iranian side,” Khani told Esta Media Network.
“According to Article 110 of Iraq’s Constitution, it is the duty of the central government to make agreements with the neighboring countries on its share of water,” he said.
To solve the issue, water experts say there are two steps that could help overcome the problem in the Kurdistan Region.
Abbas Ali, an expert in water resources, told Esta Media Network that the first step is to manage waters scientifically and the second is to complete the construction of dams which are still unfinished.
Authorities have warned that the Kurdistan Region is facing drought and shortages of water due to low rainfalls this year.
On Wednesday, KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said during a meeting held with other related officials to face drought in the Region that immediate steps should be taken and a concrete plan should be made to provide drinking water for people.
The officials decided to make two boards in order to face the problem, and they also decided to put an end to wastewater in the Region, according to Talabani’s office.
Earlier this month, the ministry of agriculture and water resources said the KRG was planning to build nine more dams across the Region as part of measures to reduce impacts of drought.
