is pumped into the Kuyumazar reservoir and later used during the peak of
irrigation. The rational arrangement of the canal route has made it possible
to limii the number of pumping stations to two, to develop irrigation by
stages without violating the existing irrigation system which provides a num-
ber of important advantages in operation. The oplimum section of the canal
bed entailing minimum excavation takes into consideralion the conditions of
sand dune formation in the desert. The commissioning of the fiist stage of the
Amu-Bukhara canal has made it possible 'ю irrigate 209,500 hectares of
land in Bukhara region by water from the Amudarya river, to improve the
weaier supply for 391,000 hectares of land and 'ю open 39,300 hectares for
irrigated farming.

Thanks to the iniroduction of Amudarya water for improving the waler
supply the region has increased cotton outpul by 190,000 tons per annum.

The second stage of the project $ now nearing completion. Boih stages
share a common canal bed right up to the Karakul water distributor. A sepa-
rate channel is then laid parallel with the existing canal io the "Khamza-Il"
pumping station which will raise water to a height of 46 metres at the rate
of 108 cu.m per second. Beyond this pumping slation the canal again joins the
channel of the first stage. On the 152nd km there is a water distributor which
discharges water into the existing canal, the Tudakul depression and ihe canal
of the second stage. On the 191st km of the canal construction has been
starled on the Kiziltepe pumping station which raises waier to 40 and 64
metres into the headrace of е Kharkhur and Shafirkhan hydroengineering
complexes on the Zaralfshan river. The Tudakul depression which has а hol-
ding capacity of 1,200 million cum will be used as a controlling reservoir
between the Khamza and Kiziltepe pumping stations. The second stage of
the Amu-Bukhara canal will make it possible to irrigate another 72,000 hec-
tares of new land and improve irrigation facilities for 300,000 hectares of arable
land.