ASTANA. January 20. KAZINFORM /Serik Sabekov/ A project on arid lands rehabilitation in Kyzylorda oblast is planned to be prepared in Kazakhstan in 2010.

Minister of Environmental Protection Nurgali Ashimov has announced it at the enlarged session of the Ministry's Board on Wednesday, January 20.

According to him, implementation of the program "Arid lands management in Shetsky municipality of Karaganda oblast" was completed jointly with the World Bank in 2009. It was the first successful step toward degraded territories revival in arid regions.

"In five years 35,000 ha of derelict land were rehabilitated, 36 watering points using alternative energy sources were arranged, stable growth of income and living standards of the population was reached", N.Ashimov noted.