Water case study: Restoring the Aral Sea

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

1. since breaking up of USSR, northern part of Aral sea is in Kazakhstan + southern part of Uzbekistan
2. 2007 - Kazakhstan govt secured $126 million loan from World Bank to help save northern part of Aral Sea
3. Kaz govt earlier used $68mil loan to build dam that split sea into 2 parts
4. Officials say northern sea is filling up now that water from Syr Darya is once again flowing into the Aral
5. New loan will be used to build second dam to bring water back to deserted port of Aralsk
6. Communities in area already feeling impact = fishermen back in boats

Question 2

Problems

Answer 2

1. Not solved problem on Uzbek side of the border
2. Southern part of sea still shrinking - many believe too late to save it
3. Amu Darya not feeding the sea as it used for cotton industry, which Uzbek economy heavily dependent on
4. Syr Darya + Amu Darya headwaters controlled by other countries= Sensitive water developments could trigger conflict