Photo by the press service of the Jogorku Kenesh. Temirlan Aitiev
According to the deputy, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is defined by the riverbed. However, since Kazakhstan has fully reinforced its banks, a large part of the water flow is now impacting the Kyrgyz side.
“Our bank is experiencing increasing pressure from the water. Every year, the river 'consumes' about 2-3 meters of our territory. According to official data, in one ayil okmotu, 200 hectares of land have been lost and destroyed due to flooding over the past three years. This is a real national tragedy,” Aitiev noted.
Additional difficulties arise from uncontrolled extraction of sand and gravel deposits in the protective zones of the river. The deputy emphasized that licenses for subsoil use are often issued with a reduction of pastures, which negatively affects livestock breeders and threatens the country's food security.
“When we appeal to government agencies, we are told that quarries contribute to the economy. But the taxes they pay are negligible compared to the damage they cause. For example, in the Kara-Jyghach ayil okmotu, there are 15 quarries operating, but the district's budget remains subsidized,” he added.
The deputy also mentioned the deteriorating infrastructure and environmental situation. Heavy machinery involved in transporting resources destroys roads built with republican budget funds, and there is no real land reclamation after extraction.
“We see in the documents that reclamation is being carried out, but in reality, this is not observed. The extraction sites look abandoned, like deep pits. We are losing irreplaceable lands due to our inaction and negligence. Every meter of our land has been defended with blood, and today we are losing territories due to indifference,” the deputy concluded.
He called on the government to take responsibility for solving this problem.
