Kyrgyzstan is on the verge of implementing a strategically important project aimed at addressing the acute shortage of irrigation water. Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, announced that negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) regarding the modernization of the Large Chui Canal (LCC) have been completed.
The project, costing 37 million euros, aims at the extensive concreting of the channel bed of the western branch of the LCC. Currently, the situation is critical: due to the wear and tear of the canal and its earthen bed, water losses during transportation reach 50–55%. This means that almost half of the resource is lost before it reaches the farmers' fields.
Concreting the canal will address several key issues at once. Firstly, it will significantly reduce leaks, ensuring stable irrigation of agricultural lands in the Chui region. Secondly, the project will prevent water from filtering into the ground, allowing for the drainage of large areas of marshy land in the lower part of the canal, which have long been unsuitable for use.
The drained lands will create opportunities for active development: plans include the promotion of horticulture, bringing areas into agricultural production, and allocating plots for residential construction. The implementation of this project could serve as a significant impetus for the creation of new settlements and the expansion of existing villages near the canal. Currently, the relevant agencies are preparing the final agreement to commence work.
