In Kazakhstan, the
requirements for the protection of water bodies, primarily small lakes and
rivers, are being expanded. Domestic enterprises may even be required to reuse
water. These and other innovations aimed at the rational use of water in the
country have been included in the draft Water Code, which was approved in the
first reading by the Mazhilis, the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament.
According to the head of the ministry, the code takes into account
international experience, with a primary focus on protecting water resources
from depletion, and only then on economic needs. For the first time, the notion
of «water security» is being introduced. It encompasses the protection of the
population and the economy from the risks of water scarcity and pollution of
water bodies. To this end, the Concept for the Development of the Water
Resources Management System and the Comprehensive Water Sector Development Plan
have been approved this year.
«The plans include the
construction of 42 new reservoirs and the reconstruction of 37 existing ones. Additionally, about 14,500 kilometers of irrigation canals will be
modernized. If all the tasks are completed, up to 10 billion cubic meters of
water will be additionally accumulated and saved by 2030. It is also planned to
transfer the function of groundwater resources management from other authorized
and local executive bodies to the Ministry,» noted Kazakh Minister of Water
Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.
Web-editor: Гайни Жумабек
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