Kazakhstan and France Collaborate on Lake Balkhash Preservation Master Plan

The Water Resources Information and Analysis Center of Kazakhstan’s Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry released a roadmap on Tuesday outlining the master plan for the preservation of Lake Balkhash.

As the Ministry said, the roadmap envisages assessment of the state and quality of water resources in the Ile-Balkhash basin, including underground waters, creation of a digital platform for Lake Balkhash water level monitoring, automation and digitalization of water bodies, water control facilities, The Caspian Post reports citing Kazinform.

It also provides for measures seeking more rational and efficient use of water resources in the Ile-Balkhash basin as well as joint action with China in response to preservation and sustainable water use in the Ili River basin.

Kazakhstan is set to join forces with the French Development Agency (AFD), French geological survey (BRGM) and local experts to study the Lake Balkhash basin, as France already started gathering necessary data, with BRGM planning field trips to survey wells, gauging stations and irrigated lands in the basin of Lake Balkhash.

Bolat Bekniyaz, First Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, said: “The document is to become a key step in forming an integrated, intersectoral approach towards basin water resources management balancing nature, economy and society”.

Kazakhstan and France had signed a cooperation agreement to preserve Lake Balkhash.