Osmon canal modernization: Affordable water will help reconcile neighbors

Osmon irrigation canal is being rehabilitated and modernized in Chui district of Kyrgyzstan. It is important for the residents of Sailyk and Iskra aiyl okmotu and serves about 3,000 hectares of land.

The canal was put into operation in 1937, it was dug by hand. In those years, active settlement of Chui region began, and the issue of access to water was particularly acute. Osmon was named after an aksakal who suggested to his relatives and neighbors to build a canal fed from the Chu river.

Now the canal is being repaired with the help of the Asian Development Bank. In particular, it helped Kyrgyzstan to purchase equipment for the work.

The main purpose of modernizing the canal is to increase the efficiency of the facility. Before the repair, it was losing colossal volumes of water. After the modernization, its efficiency should reach 90 percent.

Inefficient operation of the canal is not only a technical problem. Residents of Iskra village said that problems with access to water created conflicts on ethnic grounds. The fact is that historically the majority of Iskra’s population is Dungan people, while the residents of the surrounding settlements are Kyrgyz. Neighbors often had to quarrel over water. Now this problem will be solved — once the modernization of the canal is completed, there should be enough water for everyone.

The most important technical task that the builders are now solving is to minimize water losses during transportation. For this purpose, the contractors are using several elegant technical solutions.

Before concreting the canal, the bottom of the object is laid out with a special fabric. A layer of waterproofing film is laid on top. It is also covered with a cloth (to prevent the concrete from slipping). Then reinforcement, which includes basalt, is installed on these three layers. It is stronger and more durable than the usual steel reinforcement.

In the modernization of Osmon, expansion joints are used, which will mitigate the effects of expansion of the structure in summer and compression in winter.

According to official data, works on the canal are planned to be completed by the end of 2024. The ADB representative noted that at the moment there are no problems with the repair and construction of Osmon canal.