President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has reviewed the Mil-Mughan hydrosystem as part of his visit to Fuzuli.

Chairman of the Melioration and Water Management OJSC Ahmad Ahmadzade briefed President Ilham Aliyev on the Mil-Mughan hydrosystem. It was noted that the Mil-Mughan hydrosystem, built at the transboundary section of the Araz River near the city of Horadiz of Fuzuli District under an agreement on cooperation in the technical and economic sphere signed in 1963 between the former USSR and Iran, was put into operation in 1972. The construction of the hydro system was aimed at supplying 200,000hectares of land with irrigation water, including 120,000 hectares in Azerbaijan alone with the joint utilization of the regulated Araz River flow by the Azerbaijani and Iranian sides. In accordance with the agreement, 921 million cubic meters of water were to be taken from the Mil-Mughan hydro system and 1 billion cubic meters were to be released to the river for the protection of environment.

It was noted that the length of the water regulating section of the dam is 136 metres. Six dam outlets with the width of 12 meters as well as 4 water intakes with the width of 5 metres and height of 3.5 metres for supplying water in both directions were designed on it. Earthen dams with the length of 1850 meters were built on the Azerbaijani section of the hydro system. The facility has the capacity of transmitting 2,700 cubic meters of water per second during torrents. Water taken from the Mil-Mughan hydro system will be released to the Upper-Mil, New Khangyzy and other canals through the Main Mil canal, thus supplying water to 120,000 hectares of irrigation lands in Fuzuli, Beylagan, Agjabadi and Imishli districts. Melioration and Water Management OJSC continued the construction of the Upper Mil canal taking water from the Main Mil canal, and an 11km section was put into operation in 2012. It allowed creating pilot grain growing farms on an area of 4,800 hectares of the Agjabadi and Beylagan districs. Another section of the canal with the length of 5 km was built last year to develop grain-growing industry with the pump station fabricated on it in Fuzuli District. It allowed supplying irrigation water to the land parcels with the total area of 4,000 hectares. Continuing construction of the canal will help provide about 20,000 hectares of land with water including 7,637 hectares in Agjabadi District. Additionally, 1,725 hectares of lands will be supplied with irrigation water this year through the second pump station built at the Upper Mil Canal.

President Ilham Aliyev was also informed about water supply of irrigation lands in Fuzuli and Beylagan districts. It was noted that there are 31,305 hectares of irrigation lands in Fuzuli District. Melioration actions were put in place on 6,300 hectares of land. Water supply of irrigation lands is carried out through 1,378 km of irrigation canals, 87 subartesian wells and 56 pump stations. The collector-drainage network is 259 km long. Lands allocated for the IDP families in Gayidish and Orengala settlements of the region were provided with irrigation water. Last year saw the commissioning of 10 subartesian wells, including 7 in accordance with the respective executive order of the head of state. The drilling of 12 subartesian wells will be completed this year. Beylagan District has 50,497 hectares of irrigation lands currently.

Melioration actions were put in place on 36,548 hectares. Water supply of irrigation lands is carried out through 1,268 km of irrigation canals, 88 subartesian wells and 7 pump stations. The length of the collector-drainage network makes up 1,277 km. Last year saw the drilling of 4 and this year 6 subartesian wells.