Financial Tribune - An advisor to the project manager of the Chitgar artificial lake in western Tehran said the lake only drains one fortieth of Kan Creek's water, dismissing claims that it might cause the river's desiccation.

Speaking to ISNA, Hossein Hashemi said Kan Creek, which is a seasonal stream, brings an annual average of 80 million cubic meters of water downstream though it might vary year by year.

"Taking into account the conditions of the river, the Regional Water Authority had decided that 5 million cm could be withdrawn from the creek to feed the lake, so it issued a permit, but practically this amount is not supplied [at present]," he said.