BUSHEHR (IRNA) -- Deputy energy minister for water affairs has said that some 94 giant dams are currently under construction nationwide, of which five dams will become operational by March 2009.

Mohammad-Reza Attarzadeh made the remarks while visiting Shahid Reiss Ali Delvari Dam in Bushehr on Saturday.
He underlined that the ninth government pays due attention to water projects in a way that the water section’s credits have increased by 100 percent.
Attarzadeh added some rials 53,000 billion has been allocated to the water projects during March 2008-March 2009.
Referring to necessity of implementation article 44 of the Constitution, Attarzadeh emphasized that people should increase their participation in this respect.
The Article 44 of Iran’s Constitution envisages large-scale privatization.
He said that Iran possesses advanced technology in building dams and that Islamic Republic of Iran is currently involved in implementing water-related projects in 12 countries.
Prior to the Islamic Revolution, the country had 14 dams -- all of them built by foreign engineers.
Some 500 dams (180 giant and 320 small dams) have been constructed by domestic specialists since 1979.
Dam construction started in the country in the 1950s. Fourteen large dams were built with the help of foreign engineers and advisors during 20 years.
After the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the industry made considerable progress in the 1980s and about 200 contracting companies, 70 consultant firms and 30 corporations as well as hundreds of hydroelectric equipment manufacturer companies were established in less than three decades.
In addition to generating power, Iran needs dams to control growing water supply shortages. Desert provinces in central Iran are facing severe water crisis.