Azerbaijan records increase in water level of Kura River

The water level in the Azerbaijani Kura River has risen by 22 cm compared to the level seen on March 13.

The increased level of the river’s water was confirmed in the report by the hydrological point Kura-Girag Kasaman, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani National Hydrometeorological Service.

The water level in the river currently stands at 313 cm, the report says.

Meanwhile, Dilgam Sharifov, the spokesman for the Azerbaijani Amelioration and Water Management Authority, said that the Mingachevir Reservoir has recently received almost three times less water than expected - an average of 240 cubic metres of water per second, although 500-600 cubic metres was expected.

Sharifov noted that 120 cubic metres of water are released every second from the said volume into the Kura, 70 cubic metres into the Karabakh canal, and 41 cubic metres into the Upper Shirvan canal.

There are 252 pumping stations in 12 districts downstream of the Mingachevir reservoir, which irrigate about 500 hectares of cropland and provide water for people and livestock.

According to Report, the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament’s Agrarian Policy Committee Tahir Rzayev, commenting on the water shortage in Azerbaijan, said that the problem has become serious as elsewhere in the world.

"Kura has become shallow in some areas, with almost no water. A similar situation is observed in the Araz River. There are several reasons for this, including climate change. Other reasons are the increase in cultivation areas in the country, as well as population growth," he said.