Dams across the Kurdistan Region are operating significantly below their capacity, directors of two of the largest dams told Rudaw on Tuesday, as a combination of this summer’s lack of rain and water blockages from neighbouring countries contribute to plummeting water levels.
Over 30 dams of varying sizes exist within the Region, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, with a total capacity of 10 billion cubic metres of water.
Dukan and Darbandikhan dams in Sulaimani province are both currently operating at under a third of their full capacity; a considerably lower rate linked to climate change and compounded by the construction of dams in neighbouring Iran which officials claim is reducing water access in the Region.
Water levels at Dukan dam, built in 1959, have decreased by six metres compared to last year, with just 2 billion cubic metres of water out of a seven billion cubic capacity. Darbandikhan dam, built in 1961, has seen a decrease in its water level by seven metres, with its 2.5 billion cubic capacity operating at just 800 million cubic metres.
This video was filmed on December 14, 2021.
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15 окт 2024
