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Favorable Water Volumes Forecast for Uzbekistan’s Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers

According to the news agency UzA, Uzbekistan's Minister of Water Management Shavkat Hamroyev told a parliamentary hearing that watersheds from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers are forecast as favorable this year. The announcement was made in response to Muqaddas Tirkasheva, a member of the lower house of parliament, who inquired, "water limits are agreed with Central Asian countries every year. Today, when we meet with voters, they often refer to the water shortage. There are concerns about whether the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal will affect the water of Amu Darya. How does this year's forecast volume of water in the Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Zarafshan rivers compare to previous years? What measures are being taken to ensure guaranteed water supply to economic sectors?” Minister Hamroyev continued, "there are agreements among five countries regarding water allocations. Our recent meeting in Shymkent addressed reservoir water levels. Due to this year's precipitation, it's anticipated that water levels in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers will match last year's levels. Projections suggest 85–90% water in the Syr Darya and 90–95% in the Amu Darya compared to historical averages. Our reservoirs currently hold 1.5 billion cubic meters more water than last year."

Central Asia Environment Kyrgyzstan Environment Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

ADB Allocates $56 Million for Sewage Treatment Plant to Protect Issyk-Kul

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to allocate money for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan's main resort city on the northern shore of the high-mountain Lake Issyk-Kul, which is the crown jewel of the Kyrgyz tourism industry. . According to the State Agency of Architecture and Construction, the ADB will allocate $31 million in the form of a grant and $25 million as a soft loan for the construction of a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 14,200 cubic meters per day. The funds will also be used to build 18 sewage pumping stations, 45km of main sewers, and 109km of intra-square sewage networks in the city of Cholpon-Ata. "To date, the design and cost- estimate documentation for the sewage treatment plant, two main pumping stations and sewage collector in the city of Cholpon-Ata, and tender documents for them, [have been] sent for consideration by the Asian Development Bank," reported the press service of the State Construction Committee. The agency emphasizes that all local guest houses, sanatoriums and resorts will be able to connect to the central sewage system. Environmentalists have repeatedly warned of unfavorable ecological degradation of the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul, because of hundreds of hotels located in the coastal zone. Today, most sewage treatment facilities in the coastal towns of Balykchy, Karakol and Cholpon-Ata are out of operation. Those sewage systems were put into operation in the 1960s or 1970s, and received little maintenance or upkeep.

Central Asia Environment Kazakhstan Environment Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Featurees

Military in Kazakhstan Head Back to Bases After Working to Contain Floods

Kazakh military units that deployed to help with flood control measures in the past weeks are returning to their barracks as the crisis that hit large parts of the country winds down. “Due to the stabilization of the situation and the drop in water levels, some of the personnel and military equipment of the armed forces are returning to their permanent deployment points from the West Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions,” Ruslan Zhangulin, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said on Monday. About 2,200 military personnel and 16 pieces of military equipment were involved in flood control as of Saturday, according to Zhangulin. The military was involved in evacuations and building barriers to prevent water flows during the flooding, which began in March and forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 people as winter snow melted with the arrival of warmer temperatures. Nearly 40,000 have since returned to their homes. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the floods as Kazakhstan’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

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Kazakhstan Repurposing Floodwater

In a strategic response to the unprecedented spring flooding this year, Kazakhstan is channeling its efforts towards harnessing the disastrous floods to its advantage. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in Kazakhstan has embarked on a program to utilize the massive floodwaters for future irrigation and environmental sustainability. In the Atyrau region, which has faced significant flooding, the ministry’s subdivision has taken the initiative of digging 14.5 kilometers of new canals. These aim to redirect the surplus water from the Zhaiyk (Ural) River directly to the Caspian Sea, thereby mitigating the risk of damage in the city of Atyrau. This redirection not only safeguards the city, but also conserves water. According to estimates, up to a quarter of the Caspian Sea – an area the size of Portugal – could be set to disappear by the end of the century. In the West Kazakhstan region, discharge from the Ural-Kushum irrigation system into the Kamysh-Samar lakes, which have been dry for two decades, has been reported, marking a significant step towards reviving these reserves. Meanwhile, the Tobol River has recorded high water levels for the first time since 2000. The reservoirs of the Tobol River cascade have managed the floodwaters and are now 92% full - a record in recent times. The Astana Reservoir, meanwhile, is being filled with floodwater with the aim of securing drinking water supplies for the capital for the forthcoming year. In 2023, a shortfall necessitated additional costly water supplies to be redirected from the Satpayev Canal. In the Akmola region, having been filled with floodwater, irrigation systems such as Alva and Kenbidike are now at full capacity. Rivers in the Tselinograd region have also been replenished, directing a substantial volume of 1.5 billion cubic meters of water towards Lake Tengiz. Furthermore, the Karaganda region's reservoirs are now brimming, ensuring the region's needs are covered for the next year. Water from the Kengir Reservoir in the Ulytau region has also been discharged into the Sarysa River, flowing into the Kyzylorda region’s lake system and enhancing its agricultural prospects. The Almaty region has also benefited from an increased flow from the trans-boundary Ili River into the Kapchagay Reservoir, adding approximately 2.3 cubic kilometers of water into environmentally-threatened Lake Balkhash.

Central Asia Environment Kyrgyzstan Environment Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Mudslides in Kyrgyzstan Flood Over 200 Homes

Kyrgyzstan's emergencies ministry has formed an operational headquarters to deal with recent flooding in the south of the country. Rescuers report that hundreds of local residents have been evacuated to safety. Flooding due to heavy rains began last week in Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh region, prompting the region to declare a state of emergency. More than 500 people, including local volunteers, are currently working to clear up the damage caused. "At about 22:00 (April 22), information was received that flood waters inundated houses and roads due to heavy rain in Mady, Besh-Moinok, Kyrgyz-Chek, Asan-Chek villages of the Kara-Suu district of Osh region," the emergency ministry has commented. Unstable weather and heavy rains have already caused mountain mudslides in four regions of Kyrgyzstan. In total more than 30 mudslides have been recorded in recent days, inundating more than 200 homes. Rescuers quickly cleared some villages and districts; however, meteorologists warn that avalanches and flooding may continue until April 26, as the water level in rivers will rise.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Environment Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan International Affairs Uzbekistan Local Politics

U.S. Government Discusses Data From Air Quality Monitor at Tashkent Embassy

On April 22, a press conference was held at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan with American air quality specialist and researcher Jay Turner speaking to media representatives about the air quality monitoring device installed at the embassy in Tashkent in 2018. According to Turner, the device monitors the concentration of air particles every hour: data is taken every 53 minutes, the remaining seven minutes are spent analyzing it, and the results are compared to the previous hour. Devices recently installed by Uzhydromet also monitor air quality hourly, and their data is roughly similar to that recorded at the U.S. Embassy. However, there are aspects that should be taken into account when comparing the results, says Turner. “It is required to follow certain protocols during the monitoring process. The equipment at the embassy follows these protocols, which I have checked myself. If we assume that Uzhydromet follows these protocols and submits its reports, it can be said that it will be the same as our data,” he said. Turner mentioned that work is currently underway to determine the differences between the monitoring devices. “To find an answer to this question, the U.S. State Department has allocated grant funds to Duke University and plans to install inexpensive air quality monitoring sensors throughout Tashkent. A portion of them has already been installed,” he stated.