ZAKHO, Kurdistan Region - The construction of eight large and middle size dams on two rivers in Turkey will likely have a long-term impact on the environment in the neighbouring Kurdistan Region, according to Kurdish officials.

The mayor in the Kurdish city of Zakho said some 44 villages near the Turkish border will suffer from the shortage of water if Ankara builds these dams. He also warned that construction will have "immediate consequences" for the local agriculture in that region.

"Obviously there are international agreements on rivers that are shared by countries and Turkey should respect them too," said Mayor Botan Mohsin, who fears the dams would have a negative environmental impact on the region.

Mohsin said the drinking water supply in the neighbouring city could also be affected in the long run if the dams prevent the flow of the river into the Kurdistan Region.

Although the rivers of Khabar and Hizili originate in Turkey the largest parts of the two rivers, 88 percent, flow in the Kurdistan Region.

Turkey says it will need the dams for irrigation purposes in heavily drought-affected regions along its borders with Syria and the Kurdistan Region.