Araz News: Iran Environment and Wildlife Watch reported only 6% of Lake Urmia is left.

According to NGO’s website the 100-day deadline that president Rouhani promised to take practical action to save Lake Urmia has run out months ago and almost nothing is done. Experts say none of the 18 remedies announced by the government has been carried out. This is while head of environment department of West Azerbaijan province announced that cancer diseases are expected to increase in high rates because of the salt winds are spreading into the air.

Head of environment department of West Azerbaijan province emphasizes Lake Urmia is in worst situation within a century. Southern part of Lake is completely dried. Since 1996 the lake has lost 30 billon m³ water and only 2 billion m³ is left.

Lake Urmia the second large salt lake in the world is drying. Critics blame Iranian state of bad water resources management. President Rouhani promised to rescue Lake Urmia during his electoral campaign. But up top now almost nothing has done.

South Azerbaijan where the Lake Urmia is located is an ethnically problematic region of Iran. South Azerbaijani Turks seek their national rights despite governmental suppression. Lake Urmia’s situation effects political tensions in the region. Some violent protests erupted in the region related to Lake Urmia.