Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Turar Kazangapov

At the meeting of the Council of Heads of State-Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev raised the problem of inefficient water use and proposed solutions, Tengrinews.kz reports.

"We also face the problems of inefficient water use and ignoring environmental consequences. The degree of flow regulation of the two main rivers of our region - Syr Darya and Amu Darya - is extremely high. More than 80 reservoirs have been built in their basins, the total volume of which reaches almost 65 cubic kilometers," Tokayev said.

Thus, he said, the anthropogenic load is expected to increase, extensive use of natural resources will continue, and various socio-environmental problems will worsen. All this creates serious risks to regional security.

"Kazakh proverb says: "Su – yrystyn kozi" ("Water is a source of well-being"). I believe that our states in the formation of water policy should proceed from the fact that water is a limited natural resource on which the well-being and sustainable development of the entire region directly depends," the President urged.

According to him, the issue of maximizing water saving through the introduction of digital technologies is acute. This direction can become the main one in our cooperation on water resources.

"In my recent Address, I paid special attention to water issues. On my instruction, Kazakhstan has established a separate department - the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, which will closely deal with the pressing issues of this sector. We count on constructive interaction with all our neighboring countries," he addressed the presidents of neighboring countries.

Tokayev proposed to create a long-term and sustainable regional cooperation mechanism for the effective use of water and energy resources in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region in the spheres of irrigation, hydropower and ecology.

In his opinion, the International Water and Energy Consortium could become such a mechanism.

Source: Tengrinews.kz

Tokayev suggested the creation of a Central Asian Project Office on climate issues as another important initiative. This step, according to him, will make it possible to start developing effective measures to adapt to climate change and mitigate its consequences.

"We positively assess Bishkek's participation in the working group to improve the fund. We hope that the Kyrgyz Republic will resume full membership in IFAS. In the future, we will be glad to see brotherly Kyrgyzstan chairing the Fund," the Head of State said.

„

"(It is necessary. - Note) to develop a Work Plan for the introduction of a unified automated system of accounting, monitoring, management and distribution of water resources in the Aral Sea basin.
Implementation of this initiative will ensure transparency of water use in the region and will contribute to strengthening the dialog and friendship between the Central Asian countries", - assured Kasym-Jomart Tokayev.

„

Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Turar Kazangapov

At the meeting of the Council of Heads of State-Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev raised the problem of inefficient water use and proposed solutions, Tengrinews.kz reports.

"We also face the problems of inefficient water use and ignoring environmental consequences. The degree of flow regulation of the two main rivers of our region - Syr Darya and Amu Darya - is extremely high. More than 80 reservoirs have been built in their basins, the total volume of which reaches almost 65 cubic kilometers," Tokayev said.

Thus, he said, the anthropogenic load is expected to increase, extensive use of natural resources will continue, and various socio-environmental problems will worsen. All this creates serious risks to regional security.

"Kazakh proverb says: "Su – yrystyn kozi" ("Water is a source of well-being"). I believe that our states in the formation of water policy should proceed from the fact that water is a limited natural resource on which the well-being and sustainable development of the entire region directly depends," the President urged.

According to him, the issue of maximizing water saving through the introduction of digital technologies is acute. This direction can become the main one in our cooperation on water resources.

"In my recent Address, I paid special attention to water issues. On my instruction, Kazakhstan has established a separate department - the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, which will closely deal with the pressing issues of this sector. We count on constructive interaction with all our neighboring countries," he addressed the presidents of neighboring countries.

Tokayev proposed to create a long-term and sustainable regional cooperation mechanism for the effective use of water and energy resources in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region in the spheres of irrigation, hydropower and ecology.

In his opinion, the International Water and Energy Consortium could become such a mechanism.

Source: Tengrinews.kz

Tokayev suggested the creation of a Central Asian Project Office on climate issues as another important initiative. This step, according to him, will make it possible to start developing effective measures to adapt to climate change and mitigate its consequences.

"We positively assess Bishkek's participation in the working group to improve the fund. We hope that the Kyrgyz Republic will resume full membership in IFAS. In the future, we will be glad to see brotherly Kyrgyzstan chairing the Fund," the Head of State said.

„

"(It is necessary. - Note) to develop a Work Plan for the introduction of a unified automated system of accounting, monitoring, management and distribution of water resources in the Aral Sea basin.
Implementation of this initiative will ensure transparency of water use in the region and will contribute to strengthening the dialog and friendship between the Central Asian countries", - assured Kasym-Jomart Tokayev.

„