TEHRAN -- Migration from villages and towns to large cities has risen dramatically in Iran since the White Revolution.

This social phenomenon began with land reforms.

Both khans (landlords) and peasants left their hometowns for the large cities, the landlords seeking better investment opportunities, and the peasants with insufficient farmland seeking better living conditions.

Due to this phenomenon, shantytowns sprang up outside large cities. The residents can not afford to live in the cities. Due to the lack of serious supervision by officials, illegal housing is being built outside the cities.

Cramped living conditions, lack of the least welfare or health facilities, and disharmony characterize the shantytowns.

A governor of a rural district said that destroying the shantytowns and preventing their reconstruction would be the best way to prevent urban sprawl.

Sociologist Hassan Mohammad-Nia cited migration to the cities as the main cause of this social problem.

He said that there are higher rates of corruption and crime in the shantytowns.

Sociologist Hamidreza Mehr-Ali said that the excellent facilities and services available in large cities attract migrants. He stated that it is essential that the same type of facilities and services be provided in all areas in order to encourage people to stay in their own towns and villages. Mehr-Ali added that more attention must be paid to the deprived areas and efforts must be made to pave the way for their development. He said, "We must try to solve their problems instead of destroying the shantytowns."

The director of the Developmental Planning Office of the Interior Ministry, Ali Nozarpour, said that many of the country's citizens are living in shantytowns on the outskirts of the country's 23 largest cities.

Nozarpour added that according to official statistics, over one million Iranians live in shantytowns, and it is predicted that this figure will reach 2.5 million people by 2021.

He said that since last year the government has been making efforts to raise the standard of living, establish educational facilities, protect the environment, and construct housing in shantytowns of 10 cities. He added that 30 billion rials has been allocated for the government plan.