Kyrgyzstan proposes new approach to redirect Siberian rivers for Central Asia's water needs

Marat Imonkulov, the Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan, has suggested revisiting the relevance of the project to redirect Siberian rivers to Central Asia. He made this statement on March 27 during a roundtable discussion in Bishkek on water diplomacy issues.

Imonkulov recalled that in the 1920s, the Soviet Union discussed the "Siberian Rivers Diversion" project. The main idea behind the project was to redistribute the flow of rivers like the Irtysh, Ob, Tobol, and others to areas with severe freshwater shortages, such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

According to Imonkulov, these measures were aimed at preventing the ecological disaster caused by the drying up of the Aral Sea. The project was expected to improve agricultural conditions, restore navigability, create new conditions for fishing, and have a positive impact on the economy.

"However, the project was not implemented due to its high cost, complexity, and criticism from experts and the public. Nevertheless, the project laid the groundwork for further research and discussions on environmental and water resource issues. Given the growing water scarcity, revisiting the relevance of this idea in current conditions would be advisable," Imonkulov said.

The Secretary of Kyrgyzstan's Security Council also added that transporting excess water from one region to another could be achieved through modern pipeline systems, which would minimize environmental impact and create new jobs.

Imonkulov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan is also interested in preserving the Aral Sea. According to him, Bishkek is fulfilling its water supply obligations to Kazakhstan, helping to reduce its water scarcity and, in turn, supporting efforts to restore the Aral Sea to its former state.

"If we preserve the Aral Sea, we can change the entire region's climate and bring it back to balance," he said.