Students and Environmental Advocates in Yasuj Protest Against Dam Construction in Dana Nature Reserve
A group of students and environmental advocates gathered in the city of Yasuj to protest the Ministry of Energy’s decision to build dams such as “Mandanjan” and “Khersan 3,” which threaten the Dana Nature Reserve in the region.
Participants in the protest, held in front of the Governor’s Office of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad in Yasuj, carried banners reading “Incompetent Official, Resign” and described the decision as a “betrayal” of the Dana Nature Reserve.
They deemed the dam construction illegal, emphasizing that it would affect the lives of hundreds of people. In addition to environmental damage, it would lead to the evacuation and destruction of dozens of villages.
Published videos show one woman at the gathering addressing the audience about the environmental consequences of the Mandanjan Dam. She stated, “Building this dam not only steals our water but also dries up our roots.”
The protests were met with harsh repression by Basij militias and security forces under Tehran’s authority. Demonstrators expressed their outrage with chants like “Incompetent Official, Resign.”
Over the past year, the residents of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad have protested against the construction of several dams in the region.
Tehran’s dam construction policy has long been criticized by environmental activists over the past decades. Many activists argue that the large dams built in the last three decades have not only failed to preserve the country’s water resources but have also exacerbated droughts and depleted groundwater reserves.
Critics of dam construction warn that the devastating effects of this industry will be permanent and irreversible, asserting that even the destruction of the dams cannot restore the ecosystem in the affected areas.
