According to local residents, the intense erosion of the banks, caused by mudflows, poses a serious threat to residential areas.
Gulmayram Uchugonova, who previously held the position of head of the rural administration of Jerge-Tal, noted that the Kum-Aryk River, which runs through the center of Cholok-Kayin, undermines the banks during floods, approaching residential buildings. Despite the partial completion of bank reinforcement works in previous years, a section of about 450–500 meters remains vulnerable. Local residents are urging the authorities to complete the construction of a dam to prevent the destruction of homes.
Data provided by the Ak-Talinsky district department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations indicate that from 2007 to 2010, the Department of Monitoring and Forecasting of Emergency Situations recognized Kum-Aryk as a zone with high dynamics of bank erosion. As of 2014, the situation worsened, with the cliff approaching within 15 meters of residential houses.
Ainura Medetova, head of the socio-economic development department of the Ala-Bugin rural administration, reported that the total length of the eroded section of the river is 1550 meters.
In recent years, the following phases of bank reinforcement have been carried out using reinforced concrete structures:
- 2015: 225 meters of dam constructed;
- 2019: 200 meters of bank reinforced for a total of 4,193,000 soms;
- 2022: an additional 222 meters of dam laid for a total of 5,677,000 soms.
Currently, 1128 meters of the shoreline remain unfinished, of which 500 meters are officially recognized as critically dangerous.
According to the conclusion of a special commission established in 2024 from experts in the field, in the event of a bank breach or further erosion, the following will be at risk:
- 468 residential houses of local residents;
- 8 social facilities (including schools, kindergartens, and medical points);
- an irrigation culvert located along the bank.
Problems with the culvert could lead to the cessation of irrigation water supply to 253 hectares of arable land, jeopardizing food security and the incomes of local farmers.
