Dozens of ponds dry up in Diyarbakır

Photo: AA

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There are about 170 natural and human-made ponds in Diyarbakır, southeast Türkiye, which are used in irrigation and meeting the water needs of livestock.

Because the precipitation was lower than expected in spring months and summer was more arid than expected, dozens of ponds have dried up.

The State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) has been carrying out efforts to add water to 10 ponds it previously made.

Serkan Demir, who lives in the Avcısuyu village near the Devegeçidi Dam Lake, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they have recently faced difficulties finding water for livestock.

"Our animals are left without water. Because of the lack of rain, number of migratory birds have also decreased. There has not been enough rain for the last two or three years," he said.

"The waters have receded quite a bit. We have to go far away. We travel 17 kilometers to the fountain. We also have difficulties with our animal because the road is long."

Veysi Kaplan, a farmer in the Bismil district, also said the past couple of years have been particularly difficult for farmers.

"Livestock owners used to meet the animals' water needs from these ponds. With the drought, they began to bring their animals to other places. I would irrigate my orchard with the pond water. Because of the drought, we now use well waters," he said. (TY/VK)