Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 24, 1992

In the morning, after praying and listening to the news and having breakfast, we left for Damghan. On the way, Mr. [Gholamreza] Frouzesh, [Minister of Construction Jihad], explained the desertification programs in the helicopter.

At around eight o'clock in the morning, we landed in the south of Damghan in the area of ​​Qahab and Sataq, next to the village of Mohammad Abad, the new construction camp of Koirzdayi. The surrounding villagers had gathered. They sacrificed a lot of sheep and camels and smoked Esfand. The director general of natural resources explained and said that there are about 50 million hectares of desert in the country, of which about 27 million hectares can be improved.

I participated in the community. Mr. [Syderreza] Taqawi, the representative of Tehran who is from the same village, welcomed me and I had a friendly conversation with them. They are very loving and passionate. We visited the camp. They have brought many machines; It is one of the relics of the Jihad war era. Eight camps [desert green belt] are to be established. We visited the seedling deserts and I planted a potted seedling on the sand hill.

We flew to Damghan dam area. The representative of Damghan and the director general of water explained. We passed Ali spring and other springs in that green valley north of Damghan. At the source of Cheshme Ali, there is an old building in the middle of the water, which they said was built by Fath Ali Shah. It is part of the Waqf area of ​​Astan Quds Razavi, and part is a training camp. It gives about 1000 liters of water per second. Now they are busy laying pipes from there for the city; We have already given its currency cost.

We landed in Damghan. The people gave a very enthusiastic welcome. Then I gave a speech in their very large gathering. Mr. [Syed Mahmoud] Turabi, Friday Imam, said Khair Moghaddam. After noon and evening prayers and a little rest at the governor's office, I participated in the meeting of the clergy and the families of the martyrs and spoke for them. After having lunch with them, we flew to Garmsar. On the way, the governor of Garmsar gave extensive information.

Mr. [Syed Reza] Akrami showed a point in the northeast of Semnan, which has been introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as one of the four points for moving the capital. I don't think it's interesting; It has no water, no view, and no height. It only has good flat ground. Water must be brought from far away.

We reached Garmsar. We saw the agricultural areas and implementation of land regulation and irrigation canals from space. The people gave a very magnificent welcome. I inaugurated the new building of Islamic Azad University. I visited classes and laboratories and talked with students. They have 1,500 students, most of whom are from Tehran. I spoke in the group of professors, staff and students. I listened to the report of the head of the center and the report of Dr. [Abdullah] Jasbi, [President of Islamic Azad University]. The building is 8,000 meters and was built in eleven months.

We went to the city stadium. I gave a speech in a huge gathering of people and promised to do important things for the city, including controlling the waters, allowing the establishment of industry, which is prohibited due to Tehran's 120 km distance, and strengthening the university. Mr. [Ali] Shushtri, Imam of the New Friday, welcomed the people and expressed the wishes of the people. Mr. [Syed Ali] Mousavi Shali, the previous Friday imam, complained about the lack of attention given to him after he was removed from the Friday imam. We flew to Tehran with helicopters and landed in Saad Abad in the evening. I came home and spent the night resting.