To preserve Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan cannot do without the participation of international donors. This opinion was expressed by the former Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Felix Kulov.
He recalled that on May 30, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, at the meeting of the first summit «Central Asia – Italy» in Astana, raised the problem of preserving Lake Issyk-Kul, the water level in which has dropped significantly over the past century and a half due to climate change and anthropogenic impact.
«Since 1854, the water level in Issyk-Kul has fallen by almost 14 meters, the area of the water surface has decreased significantly, and the volume of water has decreased. Back in the 1950s–1960s, about 100-110 rivers flowed into the lake. Now it’s only 30-35. This is not just statistics, it is an alarming signal warning of a catastrophe that could be comparable to the disappearance of the Aral Sea», — the president said.
Kulov noted that the topic of preserving our unique pearl was raised in Soviet times. Then a project began to be developed to transfer part of the flow of the Sary-Jazz River to the Issyk-Kul Basin.
«It was planned to build reservoirs in the canyon of the Sary-Jaz River and in the valley of its left tributary Inylchek. After filling them to 2 billion cubic meters. meters, water had to rise to the level of the tunnel entrance portal and flow through it to maintain Lake Issyk-Kul and for watering crops», — said Kulov.
He noted that Sary-Jazz — is the second most water-rich river in the country after Naryn. Five hydroelectric power stations were to be built on this river.
«The Chinese side, even at the time when the water of this river goes into its territory, agreed that up to 50 percent would go to maintain Lake Issyk-Kul. Considering our good neighborly relations with China, there is confidence that even today the leadership of the PRC will not object to the resumption of the project to transfer part of the flow of the Sary-Jazz River to the Issyk-Kul Basin», — the ex-prime minister expressed his opinion.
He also noted that this project is certainly not easy and will require huge costs for carrying out a large volume of survey work, constructing reservoirs, tunnels, etc.
«We don’t have such funds in the country’s budget, and we probably can’t do it without the assistance of international organizations working in the field of environmental conservation. Therefore, there is hope that after the speech of the head of our state at this summit, the problem he raised will receive appropriate support in the world community», — concluded Felix Kulov.
Vesti.kg
