Kazakhstan might face severe shortage of water in 20 years

AKIPRESS.COM - According to experts, a deficit of water might occur in Kazakhstan in 2040. The level of water will decrease twice - from 23 to 10 billion cubic meters by that time, advisor of the Chairman of the water resourse committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resourses Erlan Badashev said, Tengrinews.kz reports.
The expert named several reasons for future drought. According to him, now 60-70% of water in Kazakhstan are used for irrigation, and more than the half of humidity during the irrigation is used for no reason, therefore, the irrigation system should be introduced.
Kazakhstan plans to increase the area of irrigated lands today, he noted.
According to the expert, the country is taking measures to effectively use the water resourses.
$30 million allocated by the World Bank for irrigation system will be spent for 105,000 ha of lands. These and other issues were discussed at the seminar in Almaty, where regional and international specialists were taking part. Jean-François Marteau, the World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan, said that he hopes that the seminar will help find new ideas and resolutions on measures on water and food security in Central Asia.