Makhachkala, April 19, 2016. In the near future, the environmental reclamation works on the Lake Aji will be started in Kayakentsky district of Dagestan. The reclamation process is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

"The republican Environment Ministry drew public’s attention to the lake Aji due to the fact that more than 75% of water drained as a result of the local landowner’s activity. There was announced an ecological disaster. After the Ministry’s intervention, the landholder executed all the necessary works (repaired canals and locks) for resumption of water supply to the lake. Some weeks ago, the water surface of the lake fully restored"- the head of the department for water use and protection of water bodies of the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment RD Magomed Zubairov said.  

According to the plan of reclamation activities, it is scheduled to clean the lake of reeds, to dredge and clean the lake basin and to plant trees around the perimeter of the pond. It is also planned to rear ordinary fish species that will allow organizing sports-recreational fishing in the future.

The reclamation activities on the lake will be held within the framework of the Federal target program "The development of water management complex of the Russian Federation for 2012-2020". The project implies allocation of approx. 119 million rubles from the federal (95%) and the republican (5%) budgets. The lake Aji (second name - Pappas) occupies approximately 600 hectares and is part of Papassky hunting grounds. The pond has a great potential to become a base for natural reproduction of semi-anadromous fishes.