By NNN-IRNA,
Ahvaz, Khuzestan (Iran) : Iran’s Energy Minister Parviz Fattah has said that the Islamic Republic is experiencing one of the worst drought this year over the past 100 years.
Addressing journalists in Khuzestan Tuesday, Fattah noted that that all the provinces are facing drought across the country.
“Currently the thermal power plants have increased their capacity by 25 to 27 per cent to compensate the 75 per cent decrease of the hydroelectric power plants.”
Earlier, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Reza Eskandari said that some 30 provinces in the country are facing varying levels of drought. “To alleviate the impacts of drought, the government has extended the loan repayment periods and lowered interest rates,” he said.
Directives have been issued for the banks to facilitate granting loans to farmers, he said.
Stating that a total of 15,000 billion rials will be invested in high pressure irrigation as part of a comprehensive plan to counter the drought, Eskandari added that the plan will be implemented in all the provinces for three years.
He said that some 1,000 billion rials have been proposed for implementing wetland projects as part of a bill submitted to the Majlis.
The minister pointed out that some 4,800 billion rials were allocated for 14 drought-stricken provinces at the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 21.