Water resources management of the city of Qom during the Qajarid era (1798-1925)

Aims to investigate water resource management in the City of Qom during the Qajarid Period (1798-1925). After the invasion of Afghans which led to the fall of Safavids, Qom was hit hard. The city faced destruction and loss of population. After that, until the rise of the Qajarids, the city suffered many civil conflicts. With the establishment of the new rulers, tax incomes were required to preserve law and order. One important source of tax revenues was controlling the distribution of scarce water resources, including the Qom River and the man-made subterranean water canals called Kanats. This paper looks into the measures taken by governors and other social groups to organize and manage the water resources of the city.
Method and Research Design: Library and archival resources were examined to collect data.
Findings and Government bureaucrats, tribal chiefs, and the clergy played key roles in the construction and repair of Kanats. Merchants were instrumental in undertaking cistern construction and maintenance. Bureaucrats made more efforts to construct traditional ice holes and public baths. Most of the undertakings to build and revive water resources continued until the time of Naser al-Din Shah (r. 1846-1896).