Water returns to the Aral Sea

Tengrinews.kz – Water is returning to the Aral Sea. According to the latest data, the volume of water in the Small Aral Sea has increased to 23 billion cubic meters, reports Almaty.tv.
At present, 50 cubic meters of water per second are flowing through the Aklak hydraulic complex. By the end of the year, it is planned to reinforce the protective dam there and launch a new stage of the project to save the Northern Aral.

“The salinity of the water has increased significantly. As of the 24th it had been low. Now there is a chance for the fish to survive. I hope the inflow of water will be maintained and remain as stable,” noted Azimbai Zholmyrzaev, a resident of the village of Karateren.
“In the village of Bogen, about 200 families live, and almost every one of them has a fisherman. The well-being of villagers directly depends on the sea, and everyone is hoping for the further filling of the Aral,” said Torekhan Dilzhanov, a resident of Bogen.

Up to 8,000 tons of fish are caught annually in the Small Aral. Experts believe that this result was achieved thanks to many years of efforts to preserve the sea. In 2022, reconstruction of the Kokaral dam began. Once the repairs are completed, it will be possible to supply the sea with water on a stable basis. This, in turn, will allow the development of economic and social projects.

“A major role was played by the agreement signed by the water resources ministers of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan at the meeting of Central Asian presidents. It was then decided that the volume of incoming water would be divided equally between the states. We are now fully using our share of the limit,” said Zhorabek Nurymbetov, head of the Kyzylorda Sushar production site.