In the scorching heat of summer, one of the most pressing issues faced by rural communities across Azerbaijan is water scarcity. Residents in various regions are grappling with a severe lack of both drinking water and irrigation for agriculture.

According to Bizimyol.info, a wave of complaints has recently emerged from villages in the Tartar region. Locals report that water supplies simply aren’t reaching their communities.

“We used to read in fairy tales about dragons blocking rivers. Now we’re living it,” said frustrated villagers. “Water never makes it to our farms—it gets diverted along the way by various obstacles. In reality, it’s being redirected to other areas. Meanwhile, our crops are withering in the summer heat. This kind of suffering is unacceptable.”

The primary complaints are coming from residents of Qaynaq, Qazyan, and other nearby villages.

Local resident Arif Pashayev pointed the finger at the Tartar Department for Operation of Irrigation Systems. He claims serious issues have persisted for years despite repeated appeals to government authorities. “No action has been taken, and the situation is only getting worse,” he said. “It's the helpless residents who bear the brunt. Everyone knows life in the regions is hard. People survive through livestock and farming—water is crucial. But in our district, water distribution is unfair. While many villages are deprived, private farm owners somehow get special pipelines installed. Other forms of misuse have also been uncovered, and we’ve reported them to the proper authorities.”

Pashayev noted that he had formally addressed Zaur Mikayilov, head of Azerbaijan’s State Water Resources Agency, and submitted evidence of the irregularities. However, no corrective measures have followed.

The Tartar District Executive Authority has acknowledged the issue, confirming that several villages are indeed facing water shortages. During a recent public hearing, residents from Qaynaq, Qazyan, and Yukhari Gapanli reported that illegal dams were being built in the Qaraağacı section of the Taley Canal, preventing water from reaching their communities.

In response, district officials, including the First Deputy Head of the Executive Authority Elvin Umudov, the Head of the Irrigation Systems Department Murad Zeynalov, local police, and concerned residents conducted a site inspection. The unauthorized dams were dismantled, and efforts were made to restore water flow to the villages in accordance with regulations.

Reported by Aytan, Bizimyol.info