TEHRAN The severe drought over the recent years seriously endangered the internationally known pond of Shadegan in southern Khuzestan Province, said the Head of the Abadan and Khorramshahr Environment Department Asghar Hassanpour on Wednesday.

He said that the water reserves of the pond are increasingly diminishing threatening the lives to animals living in the pond and preventing the migrant birds to take refuge in the swamp.

Hassanpour added that aside from the drought during the past few years, the development of the agricultural lands and implementation of the developmental projects have compounded the ecosystem of the region.

He also said that according to the Article 50 of the Constitution, implementing any developmental and economic project which jeopardize the ecosystem and cause irreparable damage to it is forbidden, IRNA reported.