Comments on: The Aral Sea Comes Back… http://registan.net/index.php/2006/05/29/the-aral-sea-comes-back/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 03:15:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nyura http://registan.net/index.php/2006/05/29/the-aral-sea-comes-back/comment-page-1/#comment-195323 Nyura Wed, 31 May 2006 03:41:36 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=6452#comment-195323 It seems that politics more than science will be the final doom for the southern Aral. Too much fighting over water among the 'stans, and too much money riding on the crops that have sucked the Aral dry. The New York Times/Washington Post articles in March stated that the irrigation canals along the Syr Darya in Kazakhstan were so poorly constructed and wasteful, that improving them increased the overall water flow to the North Aral much more than expected, one of the reasons the North sea has filled up more quickly than anticipated. Another article I read (I wish I could find the references) claimed that a year's subsidies to cotton farmers in Uzbekistan to close & repair that canals on the Amu Darya (and let all the water flow into the South Aral) would make a huge difference, and not cost all that much, in relative World Bank loan terms. But would the subsidies make it all the way to the farmers giving up a year of crop income? It seems that politics more than science will be the final doom for the southern Aral. Too much fighting over water among the ‘stans, and too much money riding on the crops that have sucked the Aral dry. The New York Times/Washington Post articles in March stated that the irrigation canals along the Syr Darya in Kazakhstan were so poorly constructed and wasteful, that improving them increased the overall water flow to the North Aral much more than expected, one of the reasons the North sea has filled up more quickly than anticipated.

Another article I read (I wish I could find the references) claimed that a year’s subsidies to cotton farmers in Uzbekistan to close & repair that canals on the Amu Darya (and let all the water flow into the South Aral) would make a huge difference, and not cost all that much, in relative World Bank loan terms. But would the subsidies make it all the way to the farmers giving up a year of crop income?

]]> By: Jonathan P http://registan.net/index.php/2006/05/29/the-aral-sea-comes-back/comment-page-1/#comment-194950 Jonathan P Wed, 31 May 2006 01:48:09 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=6452#comment-194950 Unfortunately, the North Aral Sea is nowhere near Karakalpakstan. This change will only directly benefit the city of Aralsk and a few other citizens of Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, the North Aral Sea is nowhere near Karakalpakstan. This change will only directly benefit the city of Aralsk and a few other citizens of Kazakhstan.

]]> By: Brejen http://registan.net/index.php/2006/05/29/the-aral-sea-comes-back/comment-page-1/#comment-194906 Brejen Wed, 31 May 2006 00:22:19 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=6452#comment-194906 oh my god, i hope it's true! the sea will revive the depressed economy of Karakalpakstan. inshallah oh my god, i hope it’s true! the sea will revive the depressed economy of Karakalpakstan. inshallah

]]> By: Ben http://registan.net/index.php/2006/05/29/the-aral-sea-comes-back/comment-page-1/#comment-193940 Ben Tue, 30 May 2006 11:47:46 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=6452#comment-193940 That's certainly great news. However, one has to bear in mind that only the northern Aral Sea is coming back, whereas the largest part of it, the southern part cannot be saved according to quite a few experts... That’s certainly great news. However, one has to bear in mind that only the northern Aral Sea is coming back, whereas the largest part of it, the southern part cannot be saved according to quite a few experts…

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