The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan has reported that it is working with the Kyrgyz government to resolve a dispute over water sharing from the Talas River, Turanews.kz reports.
The dispute arose due to the low water levels in the river, which have been exacerbated by hot and dry weather. As a result, the Kyrgyz government has reduced the amount of water it is releasing to Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh government has said that it is taking measures to minimize the impact of the water shortage on its farmers. These measures include cleaning drainage channels and using water circulation methods.
The two governments are also working to find a long-term solution to the water dispute. They have agreed to meet again in September to discuss the issue further.
The water dispute between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is a reminder of the challenges facing countries in Central Asia as they deal with climate change and water scarcity. The two countries need to find ways to cooperate and share water resources in a fair and equitable way.
The problem of water scarcity in Central Asia has worsened in recent years, threatening agriculture and food security in the region.
In July, crops in the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan, which borders Kyrgyzstan, were threatened by a water shortage. Farmers in the region sounded the alarm, accusing Kyrgyzstan of building reservoirs on transboundary rivers.
A bilateral meeting was held in Bishkek in August to discuss the water distribution problem along the Chu and Talas rivers. However, the meeting was unsuccessful in resolving the issue.
