Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The accumulation of water in Turkmenistan's water reservoirs is actively underway, local Turkmen media reported on February 15.

The main aim is to create the necessary reserves for various needs of the national economy.

"Nearly 2.7 billion cubic meters of water have already been accumulated," Turkmen Water Industry Ministry has said.

Local hydro-builders are conducting work on increasing the volume of water reservoirs "15 Years of Independence of Turkmenistan" and "Hauzhan", which are among the largest reservoirs of the country.

Turkmenistan grows cotton, corn, rice and sugar beet. In recent years, the country has been increasing capacities for the production of fertilizers. Turkmenistan is also actively purchasing agricultural machinery from the U.S. and Belarus in the framework of substantial reform in the agricultural sector.

In the period of spring floods the Turkmen water sector enterprises start work on accumulation of water in various artificial reservoirs of the country.

The reservoir "15 Years of Independence of Turkmenistan" located in the southeast part of the Lebap province accumulates water stock from Amu Darya River for uninterrupted supply of water to the rural economy of the country in spring and summer seasons.

This reserve is intended to meet the growing needs for water of the irrigated agriculture of the country, taking into account the development and cultivation of new lands. In addition, the reservoir acts as a regulator of the river flow, ensuring the normal passage of water through the Karakum River to the south-western regions of the country.

The Hauzhan reservoir plays a special role in the functioning of the hydraulic system of the Karakum River as well.

Also, the Saryyazyn reservoir located on the Murgab River and the Mammetkel reservoir in the Balkan province are among Turkmenistan's main reservoirs.

The ongoing activities to collect water flowing down the slopes of Kopetdag will create additional water resources.

The existing water reservoirs and those under construction in foothills are also designed to ensure the security of settlements, economic facilities and planted areas from flooding by harnessing the power of mountain streams.

In addition, the departments of the country's Ministry of Water Industry are completing the construction of a new water reservoir on Gozganchay River in Kaahka district of the Akhal province.

The volume of the artificial pond designed to collect mud waters, will amount to 5.2 million cubic meters, which will allow irrigating up to 1,500 hectares of land. The volume of the pool to supply the locals with drinking water is 500,000 cubic meters.

A new water reservoir with capacity of 20.5 million cubic meters is under construction in Kunya Urgench district of the Dashoguz province. Works on increasing the capacity of Mammetkel water reservoir are underway in Balkan province.