PC: Siberian river reversal

Could the Siberian river reversal project be done under the Soviet Union in the 1960s to 1980s

What would be the impact on the Soviet Union's and later stan's environment and economy

What would be the impact on the climate of the Arctic
If I remember correctly, the scientific community was totally split on whether this would combat global warming or accelerate it.
From wikipedia:
"Others feared climatic cooling from reduced river water flow, while others thought that increased salinity would melt ice and cause warming."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_river_reversal

I also know that in OTL these rivers have flooding problems in the springtime, because the downstream ends thaw last. To fix this Russia flies jets along the rivers, using bombs to break up the ice dams.
If their flow is reversed that would result in much smaller floodplanes, opening up more land to development. Not that there's any shortage of land in Siberia, but it can't hurt to have a permanent, passive solution to the flooding problem.
https://www.rt.com/news/340134-sukhoi-jets-bomb-ice-russia/

Edit: just realized I linked to the same article you did. My bad lol
 
IMO, the problem is that Russians/Soviets were thinking on a wholesale river re-routing. Toss in the proposed use of nuclear devices and it will get controversial soon.
So I'd propose going 1st and ASAP with a low-hanging fruit of diverting a sizable part (~25%) of Irtysh waterflow, via Ashtana into Aral lake. Look for some 5-10 years for pluses and minuses and plan further - parts of waterflows of Ob, Topol, Pechora. Don't go for more than 30% or flow of any river to be diverted.
 
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