Astana, Kazakhstan, Dec.24
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The volume of investments in the state programme for water resource management amounts to 3.2 trillion tenge ($1=153.6 tenge), Kazakh Minister of Environment and Water Resources Nurlan Kapparov said on Dec.24.
"The state programme offers a number of steps to reduce the expected deficit of water, 9.5 billion cubic meters of which can be covered by modernising the infrastructure and measures to improve water conservation in industry, agriculture and housing and communal services. The total estimated investment in the state programme will amount to 3.2 trillion tenge," the minister said.
In total, it is planned to invest 3.6 trillion tenge in the water supply and removal in the housing and communal services, according to the minister.
"The housing and communal services sector will be the most capital intensive," Kapparov stressed.
"When coming to solving the water shortage problem," the minister said, "the use of 'green' water-saving technology in agriculture, as well as modernisation of irrigation systems will cover about 43 per cent of the expected water deficit of 12.2 billion cubic meters.
Another 28 per cent of the total volume of deficit can be covered by modernising infrastructure facilities for transport, distribution and storage of water, according to the minister.
In addition, through upgrading the municipal infrastructure and the use of water saving technology in the industry, water shortages can be reduced by another eight per cent, according to Kapparov.
The remaining 22 per cent water shortage is expected to be covered by an inter-basin transfer of water resources to solve local problems related to water supply.
Moreover, groundwater resources can also be a significant water source, but additional geological exploration works are required for the full estimate of their potential, according to Kapparov.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.