From Tehran to Delhi: Capitals running dry
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Is Tehran moving towards ‘zero day’? Don’t get alarmed. I am not suggesting a possible US attack, but an unprecedented water stress that has gripped the Iranian capital.
It’s facing various threats and suffering from an endless water crisis. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, in a resigned tone, declared that relocating the country’s capital was not a choice, but a compulsion. Tehran didn’t land in this situation suddenly.
Warning signs had been building for years. The city’s water supply comes from snow on the Alborz mountain ranges but the centuries-old system is facing global warming threats. Snowfall has steadily reduced, leading to a decline in water supply while the size of the metropolis and its population has risen unabated.
As a result, people are indiscriminately exploiting the ground water leading to subsidence of land. The Tehran administration is installing smart meters and reducing the pressure of water in pipelines. But it’s just a band aid.
If the situation persists, water scarcity would be more lethal for Tehran than the US missiles. It can become the second capital city in modern times to be abandoned. Indonesian capital Jakarta is already facing abandonment.
Jakarta is shifting its offices to Nusantara in East Kalimantan province of Borneo Island. Why? Jakarta can provide piped water to just 40% of its residents. Ground water sustains the residents of Jakarta.
Overexploitation of groundwater has resulted in the city sinking by 15 to 28 cm annually, making Jakarta the fastest sinking city in the world. Meanwhile, the sea levels are rising. Close to 40% of the city has been devoured by the sea.
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