Photo by the press service of the Jogorku Kenesh. Temirlan Aitiev
According to Aitiev, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is determined by the riverbed. However, unlike Kazakhstan, which has reinforced its banks, the Kyrgyz side is experiencing increased pressure from the water flow.
“Every year, the water ‘eats’ away 2-3 meters of our territory. According to official data, over the past three years, 200 hectares of land have been destroyed in just one ayil okmotu due to flooding. This is a real tragedy for the nation,” he noted.
The problem is exacerbated by uncontrolled development of sand and gravel quarries in the protective zones of the river. The deputy emphasized that licenses for resource extraction are often issued at the expense of reducing pastures, which negatively affects livestock breeders and threatens the country's food security.
“When we turn to government agencies, we are told that the quarries contribute to the economy. However, the tax revenues from them are not comparable to the damage. In the Kara-Jyghach ayil okmotu, there are 15 quarries operating, but the district's budget remains subsidized,” Aitiev added.
Furthermore, the deputy pointed out the deterioration of infrastructure and ecology. Heavy machinery involved in transporting resources destroys roads built with state funds, and real land reclamation after mineral extraction is not being carried out.
“We only read in reports about reclamation, but we do not see it ourselves. The extraction sites remain abandoned and resemble deep pits. We are losing unique lands due to our inaction and negligence. To preserve every meter of our homeland, blood was once shed, and now we are losing territories due to indifference,” the deputy concluded.
He called on the government to take personal control of this issue.
