Kazakhstan begins automation of 103 irrigation canals in southern regions

Work is also underway to automate 270 previously reconstructed canals with a total length of 1,184 kilometers. In addition, authorities are developing 264 projects to reconstruct irrigation canals, incorporating automation and modern water-accounting systems.

The ministry said the introduction of digital technologies is aimed at improving water management and strengthening the country’s water security.

The introduction of digital tools will make it possible to systematically build a comprehensive, multi-level water management system. This will help ensure the sustainable development of economic sectors, guarantee the country’s water security and preserve resources for future generations, said Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Aslan Abdraimov.

The ministry has also developed the National Water Resources Information System, which brings together data on water bodies, water infrastructure, water users, groundwater and other elements of the sector.

The system is designed to create a single, reliable and up-to-date database to support government decision-making.

More than 23,000 water bodies have so far been digitized and structured in the system, including 17,758 rivers, 3,148 lakes and 1,207 hydraulic structures.

As part of efforts to make water use more transparent, the ministry has introduced a billing system that allows consumers to sign electronic contracts for water supplies through irrigation canals and provides for the automated calculation of water resources.

The contract process has now been fully transferred to an electronic format. Since the beginning of the year, more than 29,000 agreements have been signed electronically.

Earlier, Qazinform reported investments in Kazakhstan’s water sector had hit a record 677 billion tenge.