Hamidreza Janbaz, Deputy of Water and Wastewater at the Ministry of Energy, announced the ministry's preparedness to manage crises arising from the El Niño phenomenon during a training workshop on interconnected systems and forecasting and warning systems. He emphasized that the ministry's legal commitments in the upcoming conditions are crucial, and timely warnings from the Meteorological Organization have alerted relevant agencies, with necessary correspondence conducted with governors.
Key Actions for Flood Management
Janbaz further pointed out the role of inter-agency coordination, stating: "In the coming years, these issues will be pursued by the Ministers of Energy and Roads and Urban Development." He also reminded the necessity of coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, adding that dredging will be carried out if necessary. Over the past month, most provinces in the country have been affected by these conditions, which require special attention.
The Deputy of Water and Wastewater at the Ministry of Energy considers El Niño as an upcoming event and, based on the forecasts from the Meteorological Organization, has assumed optimistic and pessimistic scenarios and will manage accordingly. He outlined three essential actions for the provincial CEOs:
- Public awareness and inter-agency coordination: Collaboration of public relations and holding provincial meetings to create necessary preparedness.
- Continuous monitoring and vigilance: Ongoing attention to the warnings from the Meteorological Organization as the relevant authority.
- Acting based on the worst-case scenario: Increasing water regulation and flooding capacity to manage potential floods.
Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
Janbaz emphasized an opportunity-oriented view of the upcoming conditions, stating: "A significant amount of rainfall will occur in areas with large dams in the Zagros region and the Karun and Karkheh basins." According to him, we are at the end of the water year, and this is a suitable opportunity for filling the dams, benefiting downstream uses, drinking water, and agriculture. Additionally, the use of hydropower energy should also be considered.
The Deputy Minister of Energy warned that El Niño does not mean the end of droughts in the country, and we must have proper management and accurate forecasts for future floods. He stressed the necessity for the preparedness of related agencies and institutions to act effectively in facing the consequences of this phenomenon.
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