Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 17, 1997

After prayer, pilgrimage, breakfast and listening to the news, we left for Qochan at half past six. Engineer [Rasul] Zargar, [Deputy Minister of Energy] and Engineer [Abdullah] Kopayi, the governor [of Khorasan] were with him. We went to the construction site of Tabarak dam in the northeast of Qochan. Director General of Khorasan Water and Engineer Zargar, who recently took over the position of Deputy Water Minister of the Ministry of Energy, explained. I came here last year to start the work of this dam. has progressed Soon the water will be diverted to build the dam body. This time we came by car to see the situation of the region and Tabarak Valley. In the previous trip, when we came by helicopter, we did not see well. On the way, we were loved by the villagers.

In the city of Quchan, we stopped at a gas station to get gas; I was recognized People gathered around us; With expressions of love and some with requests. We went to Shirvan and then to Barzo Dam, which we recently named Shirvan Dam. This dam is bigger and ahead and ready to start pouring concrete. We also heard an explanation here.

Then we went to Bojnoord; We saw reconstruction works in Cheshmeh village, which was destroyed in last year's earthquake. Good and strong houses have been built for the villagers. I talked to their residents in some houses and tents. They were generally satisfied and some had high expectations. In the crowd of people who warmly welcomed us, I responded to their feelings.

Then we went to Petrochemical guest house. After prayer, lunch and rest, we were supposed to go to Jajarm by Falcon plane to see the aluminum powder factory from Bojnord airport, but Mr. [Habibullah] Mihaman Nawaz, the Friday imam of Bojnord, warned that due to the dispute and conflict between the people of Jajarm and Garme about the centrality of the city for the newly established city, the conflict may be renewed in the gathering that will be on the occasion of our presence. Recently, they have created a crisis, so we stopped going.

Instead, we went to see Bojnoord Dam; The sweet river of the valley is one of the tributaries of Etrak. They are ready to start digging the water diversion tunnel. Workshops have been built. We went back and forth by two routes. We flew with Falcon from Bojnord to Mashhad.

In the evening, Mr. Tabasi was talked about the possible problems of the country due to the linear performance of the new government. He asked me to have a meeting in Tehran with the presence of Mr. [Ahmed] Janati and [Mohammed] Emami Kashani, to solve possible problems, at their request. He said that they have appointed the governor of Isfahan and the temporary imam of Isfahan against the opinion of the leadership. On the way of Mr. Kopayi and Mr. Zargar, they had the same criticisms.

I ate dinner alone. Faithful Haj Gholamreza and his relatives came to visit. They want me to help him get the official order of the caretaker of the shrine. I wrote the memories of two days and slept tiredly.