Kazakhstan’s Ongoing Efforts to Restore Northern Aral Sea as Water Levels Increase
Kazakhstan on Track to Restore Aral Sea with Increased Water Delivery
In a significant development, Kazakhstan has come closer to fulfilling its water delivery target to the Aral Sea after five years, supplying a substantial 977 million cubic meters of water during the irrigation season. This marks a significant increase from the meager 350-400 million cubic meters that entered the sea in recent years.
The impressive volume of water directed to the Aral Sea has exceeded two billion cubic meters since the beginning of the year, with plans to direct an additional 500 million cubic meters by the end of the year, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service on October 9th.
Zeinolla Kaztoganov, deputy head of the Aral-Syrdarya basin inspection, highlighted the positive impact of this increased water flow, stating that the volume of water in the Northern Aral Sea currently stands at 22 billion cubic meters. Previously, during the irrigation period, only 7-10 cubic meters of water per second entered the sea, whereas this year, the volume has surged to 60-70 cubic meters per second, demonstrating a tenfold increase.
Furthermore, over 45 million cubic meters of water were directed to the Akshatau, Sorgak, and Kamystybas lakes, leading to a boost in the fisheries industry and tourism sector in the region. The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in collaboration with the World Bank, is now embarking on a project for the second phase of the program aimed at preserving the Northern Aral Sea.
This upcoming phase will prioritize sustainable water supply, along with the development of economic and social initiatives to ensure the long-term restoration and conservation of the Aral Sea. The efforts to increase water delivery to the Aral Sea demonstrate Kazakhstan’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable development in the region.
