Head of State Agency for Water Resources: Main reason for shortage of water is cold

Bishkek, June 15, 2021. / Kabar /. One of the main reasons for the lack of irrigation water is cold, Almaz Sokeev, director of the State Agency for Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Regional Development of the Kyrgyz Republic told during a press tour to familiarize with the upper reaches and estuaries of the rivers.

According to Kyrgyzhydromed forecasts, the inflow of water should be 79%, but currently the inflow level is about 60%.

“These indicators are associated with cold snaps in the republic, in this regard, the inflow of water decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year,” he said.

In addition, the head of the agency indicated that the melting of glaciers begins in June, but due to the cold the process has stopped.

“So, one of the main reasons for the lack of irrigation water is cold. It does not depend on us, it is a natural factor. And we cannot influence it in any way. Currently, we are waiting for the rivers to be filled in the near future,” he explained.

In addition, Sokeev noted that there are other reasons for the shortage of irrigation water, namely:

- obsolete irrigation;

- sowing other crops that consume more water;

- unauthorized water intake.

“Today, to solve the problem of irrigation water shortage, the Agency plans to install water metering systems. Work in this direction is already underway,” he summed up.