Excess water from the Esil River to be redirected to the Aral Sea

During flood seasons, excess water from the Esil River basin is planned to be redirected to the Aral Sea via the Turgay River through the construction of three canals, reports Kazinform.

The total length of these canals will be 277 kilometers, and their construction will require 324 billion tenge. A special advisory body is currently assessing the effectiveness of the project.

This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev in response to a request from a Member of Parliament.

— As part of the work of the Corporate Fund "International Fund for the Restoration of the Caspian-Aral Basin Ecosystem and Flood Management," a feasibility study for the project "Management of Flood Waters of the Esil River: Redirecting Part of the Water to the Turgay River and the Aral Sea Basin" has been developed. The total cost of construction and installation work for the project is estimated at 324.4 billion tenge, — Bozumbayev stated.

The project includes the construction of three canals:
— "Esil-Turgay" — 42 km in length
— "Karakol-Saryozen" — 52 km in length
— "Shalkarteniz-Aral" — 183 km in length

— It should be noted that the project will require significant financial investment. It aims to redirect floodwaters from the Esil River basin to the Turgay River basin, which will help restore the hydrological balance of Lake Shalkarteniz. Currently, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is conducting a comprehensive study on water redistribution between basins. Project materials will be presented to the Scientific and Technical Council under the Ministry. Based on its recommendations and conclusions, the Government will decide on the feasibility of further implementation, — Bozumbayev stated.