Experts say Crimea will have steady water supply in 2018-2019
MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - Crimea will acquire a permanent water supply system no earlier than in 2018, Environmental Design Institute head Vladimir Slobodyan opined.
"A profound study of the region's micro-geology and its subsoil water reserves will be necessary for implementing the water supply strategy. Considering all factors, we can see that permanent water supply can be achieved in 2018-2019," he said at a press conference dedicated to water supply in Crimea on Tuesday.
It is possible to complete engineering and geological survey and process the obtained data before the end of 2014, Slobodyan said. It will take at least two years to draw up the Crimean water supply project, he said.
According to Slobodyan, the development of the water supply system will cost several billions of rubles.
Meanwhile, experts said Crimea should cut water consumption for irrigation purposes through a farming scheme change.
"It is necessary to stop cultivating water-intensive crops: rice, soy and corn. These crops will have to be abandoned and traditional crops of the Crimean region should be sown instead," full member of the Russian Geographic Society Sergei Golubchikov PhD said.
The Ukrainian government halted Dnieper water supply to Crimea through the North Crimean Canal.