Tehran to Jakarta, water shortage is killing cities

Is Tehran moving towards “zero-day”?

- Shashi Shekhar

I am not suggesting a possible US attack, but pointing to the unprecedented water stress that has gripped Iran’s capital city. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian recently declared that shifting the country's capital was no longer an option but a compulsion.The tragedy has been unfolding for quite some time. Snow in the Alborz mountain ranges is the source of Tehran’s water supply. However, the centuries-old system is facing the threat of global warming. The quantum of snowfall has steadily reduced, leading to a decline in water supply. Meanwhile, the metropolis has expanded. People are indiscriminately exploiting groundwater, leading to land subsidence in many densely populated areas.

The Tehran administration has installed smart meters to reduce water pressure in pipelines. But it’s just a band-aid to deal with the crisis. If the situation persists, Tehran could become the second capital city in modern times to be abandoned.