THERAN The Governor General of Khorasan Province Mohsen Mehralizadeh on Saturday denied news issued by certain Iranian and foreign media that 656 villages had been evacuated due to severe water shortage.

Mehralizadeh said in a statement that Iranian government has taken necessary measures and made invaluable contribution to control water shortage crisis and to minimize its consequences, particularly for villagers.

According to the statement, acquisition of tankers to supply villagers and tribesmen as well as cattle with water is among the emergency programs planned by the provincial natural disaster headquarters.

Mehralizadeh said that Rls.10 billion and 72,000 tons of fodder have been set aside as relief assistance for tribesmen and villagers in the drought-hit regions.

The official referred to dozens of projects implemented in the provinces to this end including the water-shed management, dam building, tapping subterranean reserves and modern irrigation projects.

He said that last year too, the government had allocated Rls.207 billion in credit as an aid and Rls.130 billion credit for development projects in line with its policies to combat drought.

Iranian and foreign media had on Friday claimed that the residents of some 656 villages in the northeastern Province of Khorasan were in the process of leaving homes as they faced acute water shortages.

The news quoted Mirza Mohammadi, provincial head of Water and Sewage Company, said that water is supplied by tankers to the drought-hit villagers.

Iran is facing an acute water crisis due to a severe drought that has hit the country for the third consecutive year amid reports of wasteful water consumption.

It has rationed water in several cities and provinces, including the capital Tehran and Mashhad, the country's second largest, in the northeast.

Iran, a major food importer, suffered its worst drought in three decades in 2000 and is now facing a third successive year of drought.

Last year's drought destroyed an estimated 2.8 million tons of wheat, 280,000 tons of barley and 800,000 heads of livestock.

Officials early this year predicted that 12 of Iran's 28 provinces are expected to be affected and large cities, including the capital Tehran, may face water shortages.