In Kyrgyzstan, preparations have begun for the implementation of a significant project aimed at addressing the acute shortage of irrigation water. Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, announced that negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been successfully concluded, and the modernization project for the Big Chui Canal (BChK) will be launched.
The project, costing 37 million euros, is focused on the concrete lining of the channel of the western branch of the BChK. Currently, the situation with the canal is critical: due to significant wear and insufficient protection of the earthen channel, water losses during transportation reach 50–55%. This means that almost half of the resource is lost and does not reach farmers' fields.
The concrete lining of the channel will address several key issues. Firstly, it will significantly reduce water leakage and ensure reliable irrigation of agricultural lands in the Chui region. Secondly, the project will prevent water from filtering into the ground, which will allow for the drainage of large areas of marshy land in the lower zone of the canal that have remained unusable for many years.
Draining these areas will create opportunities for large-scale land development, including the development of horticulture, active use of plots for agriculture, and even the allocation of areas for residential construction. The implementation of this initiative could provide a significant boost to the emergence of new settlements and the expansion of existing villages near the canal. Currently, the relevant ministries are preparing the final agreement to commence work.
