Iran’s Deputy Minister of Water Affairs, Reza Ardakanian, inaugurated the Jegin dam near Jask in Hormuzgan province in mid-April, according to the IRNA news agency.

The dam will irrigate 4500ha of surrounding farmland. It will create 13,000 jobs directly and indirectly over the next 20 years.

Ardakanian said that 15 new dams will become operational in Iran in the current Iranian year (ending 20 March 2006). He added that the construction of another 30 dams is on the government’s agenda, with relevant tenders to be held for their construction this year.

Ardakanian noted that Iran is faced with a continuing problem concerning adequate water supplies, which necessitates the construction of new dams.