Sinews
June 24

zbek Prime Minister Otkir Sultonov has received a letter from Rim Giniyatullin, the head of the International Aral Sea Rescue Fund's agency for managing the implementation of projects in the Aral Sea basin.

The letter expresses concern about media articles regarding a project to divert Siberian rivers towards Central Asia.

The press writes regularly about the dramatic situation in the region - primarily in Uzbekistan owing to the shortage of water - expected conflicts and the need to seek Russia's help in making Siberian rivers feed the Aral Sea, the letter says. Giniyatullin claims that the articles prove that their authors lack competence in this field and divert the public from taking active and efficient measures to use the region's existing water resources sensibly.

There are calculations which show that, even if the water sent to Uzbekistan were to be fully channelled towards the Aral Sea, it would take about 100 years for the sea to reach its initial water level.

The first stage of the project alone is put at 15-16bn dollars at the very least (Uzbekistan's annual budget is 7bn dollars). Assuming that the money is found, even then the annual use of 300-400m dollars will not ensure that the first 10 cu.m. of water arrive earlier than 40-50 years' time.

The second stage is put at 30bn dollars. Taking into consideration the huge power expenses, the irrigation of one hectare will cost 2,000 dollars.

Giniyatullin calls on Uzbek journalists and reporters accredited here to study the calculations and, without politicizing, to explain to the public that the region's future in terms of water depends on the rational and economical use of the existing water resources.

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