Malaria-threatening lake might be dried

The environmental department of the NGO Forum and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources jointly held an undertaking at the UN Resource Center on Wednesday to discuss environmental problems caused by the Qobu-axmaz lake in the Neftcala District. Head of the NGO environmental department Telman Zeynalov said the lake represented a main source of malaria in summer. Though, earlier, Qobu-axmaz has been used for sculling sport training, but now threatens nearby residential areas by its anti-sanitary conditions. A number of environmental organizations have prepared projects to dry the basin and direct the water flow into Kur or Araz river. Moreover, suggestions have been offered to rehabilitate the basin. The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Huseyn Bagirov, said projects worth over $100,000 were due to be discussed with the ministry shortly. *