The problematic issues of the Zhaiyk River are under constant control of the country's leadership
Vice-Minister Serik Kozhaniyazov and Akim of the West Kazakhstan region Gali Iskaliyev held community meeting of the West Kazakhstan region to discuss problematic issues of the Zhaiyk River basin.
During the meeting, S.S. Kozhaniyazov noted that more than 80% of the runoff comes from the territory of the Russian Federation. The hydrological feature of the Zhaiyk River is that more than 70% of the annual flow of the river is formed during the flood period. In this regard, the volume of flood runoff is of key importance for the ecological state of the Zhaiyk River.
A period of low water has begun in the Zhaiyk River basin since 2018. With an average annual runoff value of 9.58 billion m3, in the period 2001-2020 the runoff averaged 8.14 billion m3, in 2019 it reached a historical minimum of 3.5 billion m3, in 2020 – 4.3 billion m3, in 2021 - 3.6 billion m3. The reason for the lack of water is climatic changes and anthropogenic factors.
Therefore, the problematic issues of the Zhaiyk river are under constant control of the country's leadership.
Questions of Zhaiyk river is constantly discussed at meetings of the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia. The last discussions on Zhaiyk issues at the presidential level took place at the 17th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in September 2021, as well as during the state visit of our President to Moscow in December 2021.
The Prime Ministers of the countries in December 2021 in Moscow and at a recent meeting, within the framework of the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, noted the need to continue joint work on the transboundary Zhaiyk river basin.
Current issues of Zhaiyk river are under constant control of the Ministers of the relevant ministries of the parties.
Constant work is carried out within the framework of the joint commission at the level of the Co-Chairs of the parties and experts.
Unfortunately, according to the preliminary hydrological forecast, the cycle of water scarcity is likely to continue this year.
During periods of low water, up to 85% of flood runoff is retained in reservoirs in Russia and Kazakhstan, increasing the influence of anthropogenic factors.
In this regard, in order to improve the water management situation in the Zhaiyk River basin in low-water years, a unified roadmap on joint research of the hydrological regime of the Zhaiyk river was signed in October 2020 and is being implemented from 2021.
The main purpose of the joint research is to develop recommendations for synchronizing the operation of reservoirs located in Kazakhstan and Russian territories to ensure flood flow close to maximum costs in low-water years.
Also, the parties have approved and are implementing a Program of Kazakh-Russian cooperation for the conservation and restoration of the ecosystem of the transboundary Zhaiyk river basin for 2021-2024.
In addition, in pursuance of the President's instructions, the Government and akimats of the regions are taking measures to improve the water management situation in the Zhaiyk-Caspian basin, including within the framework of Comprehensive Socio-economic Development Plans of Aktobe, Atyrau and West Kazakhstan regions for 2021-2025. (dredging and shore protection works, reconstruction of existing and construction of new reservoirs, cleaning of channels and channels, increase of catchment areas in the river basin, elimination of unauthorized landfills and other measures aimed at improving the ecological state of the river).
In the period from 2020 to 2025, work is being carried out in the amount of more than 98 billion tenge. The amounts can be adjusted based on the financial capabilities and readiness of the DED. Similar measures are being taken on the Russian side.
Within the framework of Comprehensive socio-economic development plans in the territory of the Aktobe region, the reconstruction of the Kargalinsky and Aktobe reservoirs, which give the flow of the Ilek river (a tributary of the Zhaiyk river), is being carried out.
On the territory of the West Kazakhstan region, the reconstruction of the Kirov reservoir has begun and it is planned to build 2 new reservoirs, cleaning and overhaul of irrigation and irrigation systems, reconstruction of the Kamensky group water pipeline.
Dredging, recovery of wrecks and other bulky items, major repairs of irrigation and irrigation systems, construction and reconstruction of main water pipelines and group water pipelines are carried out on the territory of Atyrau region to improve the hydrological regime of the Zhaiyk and Kigach rivers.
In order to improve the water supply to the Kazakh part of the Karaozen and Saryozen river basins, 2 billion 96 million tenge was allocated for reimbursement of the costs of supplying Volga water in 2020, 4 billion tenge was allocated in 2021.16 million tenge. This year it is planned to allocate 5 billion 164 million tenge.