The situation with the Toktogul Reservoir located in Kyrgyzstan has caught the special attention of the Kazakh government. Currently, its volume is 1.5 cubic kilometers less than last year. As noted by the minister, the reservoir is operating in an intensified mode due to the energy deficit, which may lead to a critical reduction in water supply to the fields of the Turkestan region, especially if "Toktogul" switches to a storage mode by the beginning of spring.
The situation in the Shu-Talas basin is also complicated: the volume of the Kirov Reservoir is only half of last year's figures. Forecasts indicate that by April, Kazakhstan will be able to receive only 285 million cubic meters of water, which is significantly lower than the needs of farmers in the Zhambyl region.
In response to the impending drought, the Kazakh government is implementing strict restrictions:
The akimats of the southern regions are instructed to carefully monitor water intake volumes. In the Turkestan region, it is recommended to completely cease rice planting along the "Dostyk" canal. In the Kyzylorda region, the area for rice planting will be limited to 70 thousand hectares.
Currently, the Kazakh authorities are transitioning their reservoirs to a storage mode to accumulate resources for the upcoming harvest.
