Election season in Khanaqin district of Diyala province has taken an unusual turn, as several candidates for the Iraqi Parliament have resorted to drilling artesian wells in local villages—without official authorization. Authorities warn that these actions not only breach regulations but could also harm the environment.
In the Village of Garmik, also known as Ma'dan, residents have long struggled with water shortages dating back to the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Home to about 100 families along the Alwand River, the community relies heavily on wells for drinking water.
“During this election campaign, a candidate drilled artesian well in our village and pledged to build a main water network,” said Karim Hamawandi, the village headman. “They claimed they had obtained the necessary approvals.”
However, under Iraqi law, well drilling requires prior permission, a technical assessment, and formal approval from the local administrative unit. Only when deemed a public necessity does a government department undertake such projects.
An anonymous official from the Diyala Groundwater Department told KirkukNow that most of these newly drilled wells were carried out without the department’s knowledge.
Diyala, 2025: Drilling an artesian well in one of the areas of Khanaqin District. KirkukNow
“Khanaqin and its surrounding villages do not currently need new wells,” the official said. “About 90 percent of the district’s neighborhoods already have access to water networks or existing wells.”
“Some candidates are drilling wells merely to win votes,” he added.
In Diyala, nearly 400 candidates are competing for 14 parliamentary seats, with more than 200,000 eligible voters residing in the Khanaqin District alone, out of over 1,051,000 voters province-wide.
One of the candidates, Nizar Saman from Khanaqin, admitted to funding a well for Garmak Village at his own expense, insisting it serves the public good.
“This will actually help conserve groundwater,” he said. “Public wells will reduce the pressure on private wells that many households rely on.”
Elsewhere, another candidate financed the drilling of a well at Khanaqin Industrial High School. Ibrahim Ahmed, representing candidate Riyad Abbas, confirmed that the project provided drinking water for around 1,200 students and staff, but acknowledged it was done without the required permits.
According to KirkukNow, similar wells have been drilled in several other areas of Khanaqin and Diyala as part of candidates’ campaigns ahead of the November 11 parliamentary elections.
Local environmental activist Ayad Kirkuki noted that while candidates have spent heavily on their campaigns, none have proposed serious environmental programs.
“Khanaqin faces many environmental issues—shrinking green spaces, the declining Alwand River, and a complete lack of waste management facilities,” Kirkuki said.
“Dozens of tons of metal and flexible materials have been used for campaign decorations, which not only pollute the city but also block visibility,” he added.
