Kyrgyzstan stopped supplying irrigation water to Kazakhstan’s southern Zhambyl region in August, which resulted in a threat to crops in the region. Press service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan reports.
According to the ministry, as of August 9 this year, the volume of Kirov reservoir in Talas river basin reached 32.48 million cubic meters, which is 144.8 million cubic meters less than in the same period last year (177.28 million cubic meters).
«According to the schedule of 2022, Kazakhstan’s demand in August is 45 m3/sec, in fact, water is not supplied — 0 m3/sec. At present, negotiations are underway with the service of Talas BUVH of Kyrgyzstan on the supply of water from the reservoir at a flow rate of at least 5 m3 / s to maintain the work of Zhambyl GRES named after T.I Baturov, as well as ecological release in the bed of Talas river,» the statement says.
According to the ministry, a number of districts in the southern region of Kazakhstan are experiencing a shortage of irrigation water, and «due to the lack of water supply from Kirov reservoir, about 4,000 hectares of onions and sugar beets are under threat.»
Deputy head of the ministry Galidulla Azidullin is currently in Zhambyl region to solve the problems that have arisen, the press service said.
