Kyrgyzstan considers traffic jams on the border as Kazakhstan’s revenge for not supplying water

A heat wave in the Central Asian republics has caused drought and disputes over transboundary water supplies. The inflow of water into the Kyrgyz Kirov reservoir from the Talas River, which provides irrigation water to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, as of August 23, amounted to only 0.7 cubic meters. m / s, which is 13 cubic meters. m/sec less than in the same period last year, the press service of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture reported. As a result, the volume of the reservoir decreased by 6.5 times compared to the same period last year – from 87.2 million to 13.4 million cubic meters. m of water. In total, the water supply plan for Kazakhstan from April to September 2023 was, according to the ministry, 344.7 million cubic meters. m. As of August 5, 2023, 323.3 million cubic meters were supplied. m, with a plan for this date of 312.7 million cubic meters. m.

On July 17, Astana asked the Kyrgyz side to increase water supply from 40 to 45 cubic meters. m/sec. But Bishkek replied that with an increase in consumption from July 17 to August 1 to 45 cubic meters. m / s by August 1, the balance of Kazakhstan’s quota for the entire season will be reduced to 3.54 million cubic meters. m, after which the consumption will have to be reduced to 10 cubic meters. m/sec. And with such an expense, the Kazakh quota will be completely exhausted by August 4. On August 6, according to the ministry, the parties agreed to stop the supply of water resources to Kazakhstan, but left the opportunity to return to the issue if the inflow to the reservoir increases. But as of August 23, it has not grown.