An additional 1.2 billion cubic meters of water will
be directed to the North Aral Sea by the end of the year. The measure is part
of a large-scale restoration program being implemented by the Kazakh Ministry
of Water Resources and Irrigation. The ongoing efforts are expected to raise
water levels in the North Aral Sea, reduce salinity, and create more favorable
conditions for preserving the ecosystem and developing fisheries in the region.
At the same time, Kazakhstan, together with the World Bank, is preparing the
second phase of a project to reconstruct the Kokaral Dam. The ministry notes
that all work is being carried out within the framework of the country’s Water
Resources Management System Development Concept through 2030.
«The North Aral Sea now holds 23.5 billion cubic
meters of water. This autumn, additional water will gradually be released from
the Shardara Reservoir to further raise the sea level. The next phase will
involve reconstructing the Kokaral Dam. Raising the dam by two meters will allow
the North Aral Sea to accumulate an additional 7 billion cubic meters of water,
increasing its total volume to 34 billion cubic meters,» said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakh Minister of Water
Resources and Irrigation.
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