President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov in an online meeting on Wednesday with Annageldy Yazmyradov, the Deputy Chairman of the Turkmen Government in charge of the agro-industrial complex, instructed to consider the possibility of starting the supply of desalinated water from the Caspian Sea to Ashgabat.
The meeting was dedicated to the state of affairs in agriculture spheres and water issues.
The Head of State said he would hold a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on June 11, and taking into account the difficult water situation in the region addressed a number of instructions to the Vice-Premier Yazmyradov, the country's official media reports.
The Turkmen President has instructed to prepare a draft decree on establishment of a Governmental Commission chaired by Yazmyradov and include heads of the Supreme Control Chamber, the State Committee for Water Management, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, scientific institutions, provincial governors and other agencies into its composition.
The Head of Turkmenistan stressed the need to inspect riverbeds, starting this work with the Amudarya and Karakum rivers, and instructed to identify the causes preventing the water flow and promptly make up an action plan to address shortcomings and begin its implementation. In addition to rivers, the main water courses should also be checked, the Turkmen President stated.
President Berdimuhamedov then instructed to consider the possibility of starting the construction of desalination plants and supplying water to Ashgabat from the Caspian Sea.
The Head of Turkmenistan ordered to report on the progress of work at each meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.