The city of Isfahan is facing a growing crisis as land subsidence has become increasingly alarming. The circulation of numerous images showing ground collapses across various parts of the city has intensified concerns about the safety of its invaluable historical and architectural monuments.
According to a report by Jadeh Makhsous news website, the issue of subsidence in Isfahan is not new; warnings have been issued for years. However, these alerts have largely been disregarded by government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, leaving the city’s historical treasures in a precarious position.
Bahrām Nādi, a member of the Isfahan Subsidence Working Group, stated to ‘Kojaro’ that, “In the center of Isfahan, especially around the Jameh Atiq Mosque, Seyyed Mosque, and Ali-Qoli Agha Mosque, the subsidence rate is estimated to be between two to three centimeters per year.”
With the recent spread of videos and images showing ground collapses, Nādi, who is also a faculty member at the Faculty of Civil and Geotechnical Engineering at Najafabad University, emphasized the need to distinguish between “subsidence” and “sinkholes.”
According to Jadeh Makhsous, one of the most significant challenges is the lack of funding for the protection and restoration of these historical sites. Nādi explained that budget constraints severely hamper conservation efforts.
Recently, the formation of a “National Headquarters for Combating Subsidence” was announced. Regarding this development, Nādi questioned the extent of the headquarters’ authority and its power of enforcement.
The crisis will persist as long as groundwater extraction continues to exceed the rate of aquifer replenishment. This problem is not unique to Isfahan, as many cities across Iran are grappling with the same issue.
The situation in Isfahan serves as a stark warning about a broader crisis in water management and unsustainable development. What are your thoughts on balancing urban development with heritage preservation? Share your perspective in the comments below.