Title: Tehran Municipality Defends Public Health Project Amid Environmental Oversight Concerns
A Clash of Priorities in Kolchal
A public health initiative in Tehran’s Kolchal area has become the center of a dispute between local authorities and regulatory bodies. The project, involving the construction of public restroom facilities, is intended by Tehran’s Municipality District 1 to address sanitation needs for the high volume of tourists and families, including families of martyrs, visiting the popular recreational area.
Regulatory Warnings Issued
Despite the municipality’s stated public welfare goals, several government agencies have formally opposed the project’s location. The Shemiranat County Department of Environment, following field inspections and a review of riverbed maps, has declared that construction within the river’s bed and its legal boundary is prohibited. The department warned that the municipality’s actions could lead to the pollution of surface and underground water resources, posing a threat to public health.
Echoing this stance, the Technical and Civil Deputy of the Shemiranat Governorate stated in an official letter that the continuation of the construction is not permitted. The deputy’s office mandated that the municipality must dismantle and remove the structures, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance.
Municipality’s Rebuttal and Safeguards
In response to the objections, Tehran’s Municipality District 1 has presented a detailed defense of the project. Officials assert that the chosen site is geologically suitable, located on impermeable rock and at a distance of more than 100 meters from water sources and springs. They emphasize that the installed septic tanks feature multi-layered, leak-proof walls designed to prevent any wastewater seepage into the soil or water tables.
The municipality has framed the project as a necessary service, particularly for women and families, on a heavily trafficked route where the nearest existing facilities are a 45-minute walk away. They further stated that the project was executed under the supervision of technical experts and is harmonized with the natural environment.
The Unresolved Risk
While the municipality has provided technical assurances, environmental and water resource experts maintain that a potential risk persists. They caution that even adherence to technical standards cannot entirely eliminate the threat of contamination to drinking water sources, especially when construction occurs near a river. The core of the dispute now rests on balancing public service needs with the imperative of safeguarding the capital’s vital water resources, as oversight bodies continue to call for a halt to the project.