HISTORICAL PROBLEMS OF NEW LAND RECLAMATION AND RECLAMATION IN KHOREZM AND KARAKALPAKSTAN IN 1950–2000

This article examines the historical processes, scope, and ecological-economic consequences of massive new land reclamation and hydro-ameliorative engineering in the Khorezm oasis and the Republic of Karakalpakstan from 1950 to 2000. During the second half of the 20th century, the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River became the epicenter of aggressive agricultural expansion aimed at ensuring Soviet cotton independence. While the construction of large-scale irrigation systems significantly expanded the arable land fund, it triggered profound environmental degradation. Based on archival records, statistical collections, and historical monographs, this paper analyzes the structural problems of hydro-amelioration, including secondary soil salinization, rising groundwater levels, inefficient water resource management, and the subsequent desiccation of the Aral Sea. The research highlights that the techno-centric approach to environmental engineering, combined with mono-cultural agrarian policies, laid the foundation for the current ecological crisis in the region.