Gholamreza Shangi, the head of the Urban Services Department of Tehran Municipality, emphasized the importance of using raw water and wastewater in addressing environmental challenges and crisis management during the four hundred and forty-fifth session of the Tehran City Council. He stressed that preventing and managing crises caused by the El Niño phenomenon is currently one of the main priorities of Tehran Municipality.
Dredging of Channels and Preventive Measures
Shangi pointed out the condition of the Shahid Bakri Channel, stating that it had remained untouched for 15 years and was in a complex state. However, through initiative and efforts made, this channel was completely dredged. He added: "Overall, dredging in large and surface channels was carried out well, and there were no problems in this regard."
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Readiness of Urban Service Forces
With a red alert issued by the Meteorological Organization, Shangi announced the full readiness of urban service forces and various areas of Tehran. By yesterday afternoon, the rainfall in Qaem Town reached 79.7 millimeters, which is significant compared to the 55 millimeters of rainfall during the last flood at Mehrabad Airport. He also mentioned the identification of 42 bottleneck points in the city and emphasized that prior to the alert, visits were made to these points and arrangements for faster service delivery were planned.
Attention to the Stormwater Collection Network
Shangi noted that out of 735 kilometers of stormwater collection network in Tehran, 575 kilometers are covered and 160 kilometers are open. He emphasized the need for a review and serious attention to the covered network and announced that this year, 26,000 cubic meters of manual dredging and sediment removal have been carried out in the main network. Additionally, 72,000 cubic meters of mechanical sediment and waste removal have also been conducted since the beginning of this year.
Measures to Control Flooding
In preparation for critical conditions, Shangi referred to the construction of 983 sedimentation basins, the provision of 627 specialized equipment, and the placement of New Jersey barriers in various areas. Furthermore, 65,000 sandbags have been prepared at 416 flood-prone points. Given the forecast of rainfall, he announced that the rainfall will decrease to a minimum in the late hours of the night, and the El Niño phenomenon is predicted for the next three years. Therefore, there is a need for serious attention in budget allocation for necessary actions in managing these conditions.
Increase in Urban Service Workers' Salaries
Shangi also announced an increase in the salaries of urban service workers, stating: "With the follow-ups made, their salaries have increased from 25 to 38 million tomans. This action has been taken to appreciate the efforts of these individuals in critical conditions."
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