Liberalized Soviet Union restores Aral Sea?

Dorozhand

Banned
Let's say Gorbachev had managed to keep control of the situation from 1989-1991 and the USSR held itself together and the democratic and social reforms continued. Then, after the country had stabilized by the end of the 1990s, its leadership (a new generation of elected leaders from around the Union) calls for an international effort to restore the South Aral Sea.

What might come of this?
 
Let's say Gorbachev had managed to keep control of the situation from 1989-1991 and the USSR held itself together and the democratic and social reforms continued. Then, after the country had stabilized by the end of the 1990s, its leadership (a new generation of elected leaders from around the Union) calls for an international effort to restore the South Aral Sea.

What might come of this?

Unfortunately nothing. The staggering cost of any such project and negative public opinion (negative because by the late 1990s it was widely believed the near total evaporation of the Aral Sea was inevitable) would doom any such effort.
 

Dorozhand

Banned
Unfortunately nothing. The staggering cost of any such project and negative public opinion (negative because by the late 1990s it was widely believed the near total evaporation of the Aral Sea was inevitable) would doom any such effort.

I would think, though, that such an effort would at least go better than OTL without the chaos of the USSR's collapse. With one democratic polity in control of the whole area around the sea instead of several very poor states led by banana dictators, maybe a project like that which is currently bringing back the North Aral might be used on the whole sea.

Perhaps something like canals that restore the former courses of the Daryas, and a restoration of the existing irrigation canals to make them more efficient (the old irrigation canals lost at least 40% of their water to evaporation and absorption). In the late 90's, I think that the lake could still have been saved. Though it was going fast, it was still there.
 
Let's say Gorbachev had managed to keep control of the situation from 1989-1991 and the USSR held itself together and the democratic and social reforms continued.

Erm, he was, well not only he but the entire central committee at that time very well in control of the situation. There is nothing to "manage" so i don't see exactly where you heading.
 
IMO, the only way to restore Aral Sea is re-direct some water from Irtysh River to Aral Sea. If this project is implemented it woudl greatly improve region around Aral Sea and better development of Central Asian countries. Problem is cost of such project huge.
 
Top