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New Dam Planned in the Lake Urmia Basin, Environmentalists Warn

2026.07.06, 12:32
New Dam Planned in the Lake Urmia Basin, Environmentalists Warn

Plans to build a new dam in the Lake Urmia watershed in West Azerbaijan Province have once again come under discussion.

Gunaz.tv

According to local media reports, Seyyed Salman Zaker, the parliamentary representative for Urmia, has called for the construction of a new dam on the Baranduz River, one of Lake Urmia’s main water sources.

Zaker argued that the project is essential for supporting agriculture in the region and urged authorities to begin construction as soon as possible.

However, environmental activists and experts have warned that building another dam would further worsen the condition of Lake Urmia and could make its restoration impossible.

Experts say the Baranduz River is one of the lake’s most important perennial water sources during the warm season, and damming it would deal a devastating blow to ongoing restoration efforts.

Ahmad Baybourdi, head of the East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center and a prominent environmentalist, also criticized the proposal.

"Those who support the construction of new dams around Lake Urmia will bear responsibility for the lake's destruction. The bitter truth is that building dams on the rivers flowing into the lake has directly contributed to the worsening of its environmental crisis," he said.

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