By the end of March 2025, 1.6 billion cubic meters of water will be released into the North Aral Sea. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has reached an agreement with its partners in the Central Asian countries on this.
It should be noted that from October 2024 to January of this year, more than 1 billion cubic meters of water was released into the North Aral Sea. This is 100 million cubic meters more than the previously planned volume.
“It should be noted that the opinion that the North Aral Sea is filling up due to floods or rain is wrong. For example, there were no large-scale floods in the south of the country. The release of water into the Aral Sea is a real result of the competent distribution of water resources, their conservation, and water diplomacy,” said Moldir Abdualiyeva, an official representative of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Today, the total volume of water in the North Aral Sea exceeds 22 billion cubic meters. To compare the growth dynamics: at the beginning of 2022, this figure was 18.9 billion cubic meters. By the end of 2025, the volume of water in the sea is expected to reach 23.4 billion cubic meters. And by the end of 2030, it is planned to increase the volume of water in the North Aral Sea to 27 billion cubic meters.
The area of ​​the North Aral Sea is also increasing along with its size. Today, the sea area is 3,065 square kilometers. This is 111 square kilometers more than at the beginning of 2022. The increase in the size and area of ​​the North Aral Sea has made it possible to reduce the salinity of the water and restore the population of 22 species of fish. The annual catch has reached 8 thousand tons.
The ministry plans to complete the reconstruction of the Kokaral dam, which separates the North Aral Sea from the Greater Aral Sea, by the end of the year. In addition, together with the World Bank, it has developed the second phase of the North Aral Sea Conservation Project, which includes 39 projects. This will provide 2,000 people with permanent employment, develop the agricultural and fishing industry of Kyzylorda region, create additional jobs, and improve the economic and social situation in the region.
The use of water-saving technologies and leveling of rice fields allowed saving 200 million cubic meters of water and sending it to the North Aral Sea.
"Using this opportunity, we call on farms and farmers to actively use water-saving technologies. Unprecedented measures have been taken to encourage farmers. The Ministry has increased the amount of subsidy for the purchase and installation of water-saving systems from 50% to 80%. Such state support is available in few countries. Farmers who have installed water-saving technologies also pay less for irrigation water. In our country, the amount of subsidy for irrigation water has been increased to 85% depending on the tariff," said Moldir Abdualiyeva.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/water/press/news/details/940860