Baku: The next online meeting of the Working Group, established by the order of Zaur Mikayilov, Chairman of the State Water Resources Agency of Azerbaijan, for the preparation of the feasibility study and project-estimate documents for the reconstruction of the Karabakh irrigation canal, was held, State Control Service for Water Use and Protection told APA-Economics.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rafig Aslanov, head of the Working Group, stated during the meeting that the irrigated area will be increased from 115,000 hectares to 166,000 hectares. This expansion will be achieved by enhancing the normal water flow of the Karabakh irrigation canal from 113 m³/sec to 135 m³/sec and reconstructing the earthen channel with a concrete lining, which will reduce water loss by approximately 300 million m³. Additionally, by altering the canal’s route after the 106th km, around 20,000 hectares of land irrigated by the Yeni Khangyzi canal in the Beylagan and Agjabedi districts will see improved water supply.
A presentation was subsequently held to discuss the current status of the feasibility study and project documents for the canal’s reconstruction. These documents have been jointly prepared by the project institute under SAWRA and specialists from the PROYAPI and TEMELSU companies involved in the project. The presentation provided detailed information on the current project status and the measures planned for its implementation.
Lastly, the Head of the Working Group indicated that the preparation of the project-estimate documents for the reconstruction of the Karabakh irrigation canal will be finished in the first half of 2026. The project’s implementation and the commencement of construction work are expected to improve the water supply in the areas served by the canal and positively impact the ecological and reclamation conditions of the surrounding regions.
The reconstruction project of the Karabakh irrigation canal is being carried out based on Order No. 85 dated April 15, 2024, titled ‘On Measures for the Reconstruction of the Karabakh Irrigation Canal,’ signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.