Rebuilding Jabrayil: Preparations underway for 52-km irrigation canal

Work is underway to construct a 52-kilometre main irrigation canal originating from the Qiz Qalasi reservoir in Jabrayil district. 

The canal, with a capacity of 50 cubic meters per second, aims to transform water management in the region, the Directorate of Construction Projects under Azerbaijan’s State Water Resources Agency told Caliber.Az.

This ambitious project will include a 252-kilometre network of irrigation pipelines, facilitating efficient irrigation for lands in the Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts, as well as the Mil-Mugan zone along the Araz River.

Funding for the project will be partially provided by the Islamic Development Bank, which has committed $96.48 million toward its realization.

Jabrayil’s transformation: from occupation to renewal

The Jabrayil district has endured significant hardships. Occupied by Armenian forces on August 23, 1993, during the First Karabakh War, the district saw its city, four settlements, and 97 villages completely destroyed. Over the years of occupation, displaced residents of Jabrayil were scattered across Azerbaijan, living in tent camps, cargo wagons, and makeshift shelters.

Liberation came in stages. In 1994, as part of the Horadiz operation, Azerbaijan’s army reclaimed the village of Jojug Marjanli. The April 2016 clashes brought further progress, with the Lale Tepe height captured, eliminating Armenian military surveillance over Jojug Marjanli.

On October 4, 2020, during the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the liberation of Jabrayil city and nine surrounding villages. The victory also restored Azerbaijan’s control over its border with Iran. On November 16, 2020, President Aliyev raised the Azerbaijani flag in Jabrayil and at the historic Khudafarin Bridge.

Following the victory, the government launched a comprehensive reconstruction initiative under the “I State Program on the Great Return to the Territories Liberated from Occupation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.” This program prioritizes sustainable resettlement, economic growth, and regional development.

Demining activities have been a critical first step, with over 1.5 billion square meters of land cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance between 2020 and 2024. Efforts are now focused on creating workplaces, improving living conditions, and revitalizing the region’s infrastructure.

In July 2023, President Aliyev officially declared October 4 as the “Day of the City of Jabrayil,” commemorating its liberation. The irrigation canal project is a cornerstone of the broader vision to ensure Jabrayil’s sustainable development, enabling its people to reclaim their homeland and thrive.

By Tamilla Hasanova