Photo by the press service of the Jogorku Kenesh. Temirlan Aitiev
He explained that the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan runs along the riverbed of the Chui Canal. While Kazakhstan has reinforced its banks, the Kyrgyz side remains unprotected, increasing the pressure of the water flow on our lands.
“Every year, the water washes away 2-3 meters of our territory. According to official data, over the past three years, 200 hectares of land have been washed away in just one ayil okmotu. This is a real national tragedy,” Aitiev noted.
Additional problems arise from the unregulated extraction of sand and gravel in the protective zones of the canal. According to the deputy, licenses for extraction are often issued to the detriment of pastures, negatively impacting livestock farming and food security in the country.
“When we contact government agencies, we are told that quarries contribute to economic development. But the taxes they pay are nothing compared to the damage. For example, in the Kara-Jygach ayil okmotu, there are 15 quarries operating, and the district's budget remains subsidized,” he emphasized.
Aitiev also drew attention to the deteriorating state of infrastructure and ecology. Heavy machinery involved in extraction destroys roads built with republican budget funds, while the restoration of land after mineral extraction is not carried out.
“We only read about reclamation in documents, but we do not see it in practice. The extraction sites remain abandoned, resembling deep caves. We are losing irreplaceable lands due to our own inaction and negligence. Blood was once shed for every meter of our homeland, and now we are losing territories due to indifference,” the deputy concluded.
He called on the government to take control of this issue.
