Plans to expand small-scale hydropower in southern Kyrgyzstan are facing pushback from rural communities concerned about water supplies and the ecological impact on mountain rivers.
Residents of Kara-Tash village, located in the Kara-Kulja district, have raised objections to a proposed small hydroelectric facility on the local river. Villagers have submitted formal appeals to parliament and voiced concerns on social media, warning that altered hydrological flows could disrupt farming and daily life in the valley.
The dispute prompted lawmaker Suyunbek Omurzakov to request the formation of an interagency government commission, including independent environmental experts. Speaking in the Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan’s parliament), Omurzakov said specialists must inspect the site, evaluate the environmental footprint, and engage with the community before work continues. He warned that moving forward without independent reviews could harm local livelihoods.
The tensions reflect wider water management challenges in the region. Along the nearby Tar River, work on another small plant has unsettled residents in Say, a downstream settlement of more than 1,000 households that depends heavily on stable water flows for irrigation.
Omurzakov said that while Kyrgyzstan needs to expand its power generation capacity and attract private investment, authorities must address the concerns of local populations to prevent social friction. Following his address, Parliament Speaker Marlen Mamataliev ordered the lawmaker’s request entered into the official record for government review.
