ALMATY, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The volume of water in the North Aral Sea is expected to increase from the current 22 billion to 27 billion cubic meters by 2030, said Moldir Abdualieva, spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, on Tuesday.
More than one billion cubic meters of water were directed to the North Aral Sea from October last year to January this year, 100 million cubic meters more than previously planned.
"The belief that the North Aral Sea has filled due to floods or rain is somewhat mistaken. For example, there were no major floods in the southern regions of the country. The filling of the Aral Sea is the result of proper distribution of water resources, their preservation, and the outcome of water diplomacy," said Abdualieva.
By the end of the year, the ministry also plans to complete the reconstruction of the Kokaral dam, splitting off the North Aral Sea from the South Aral Sea.
"This will help us preserve the North Aral Sea, reduce the salinity of its water, and improve the ecological situation in the region," she noted.
The Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest lake in the world by area. Since the 1960s, the sea has been rapidly shrinking due to extensive water withdrawals from its main tributaries. Over time, it split into two separate bodies and nearly dried up completely. ■
