Uzbekistan's payment to Kyrgyzstan for water in 2023 amounted to $240,000. Notably, this amount is expected to increase to $280,000 in the current year, Kaktus Media reported. Almazbek Sokeev, the director of Kyrgyzstan's Water Resources Service, has provided insights into the water supply agreements between Kyrgyzstan and its neighbouring nations, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Sokeev clarified that Kazakhstan annually allocates funds for the maintenance and repair of interstate water facilities; however, these funds are not directly transferred to Kyrgyzstan. Instead, Kazakhstan takes on the responsibility of executing the repair work itself.
For instance, at the Kirov reservoir, Kazakhstan replaced the gate, a task that required substantial funding. The annual expenditure on such repair work amounts to KZT 179mn ($401,800).
Negotiations with Kazakhstan
Sokeev revealed that negotiations are currently underway with Kazakhstan to allocate the necessary funds for maintaining the facilities. He explained, “Because we carry out repairs with our forces, we have no contracting organisations.”
Uzbekistan’s payment for water
In contrast to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pays directly for the water it receives from Kyrgyzstan. Sokeev noted that Uzbekistan increases its allocation every year. In 2023, it was $240,000, and this year it will be $280,000. The allocation is expected to increase further in 2025.
President Sadyr Japarov’s remarks
Earlier, Daryo reported that Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov discussed the country’s irrigation system and water management in a recent interview with the state agency Kabar. He highlighted the challenges faced by farmers due to insufficient water accumulation in the daily and ten-day regulation basins, which have not been cleaned in the past. The republic uses only 1% of the Naryn River for irrigation and drinking water, while 99% goes to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
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