URGENT ALERT ON THE WORLD WATER DAY:
A MAJOR RISK TO THE TUUL RIVER OF ULAANBAATAR AND ITS AQUIFER
On May 15, 2026, the Governor of the Capital City of Mongolia, Mr. Nyambaatar Khishgee gave the green light to commence a construction project called “The Tuul River Highway”. A Hong Kong based company rushed to destroy Tuul River willows over the next few days which stirred outrage of Ulaanbaatar residents.
Mongolian’s social media buzzed with calls to halt the project from Day 1. More and more people joined the protest against the project. Today, at 12pm, Ulaanbaatar residents will continue their protest with a peaceful demonstration on Marshal Bridge, one of bridges crossing the Tuul River.
The project was planned in total secrecy.
Residents whose livelihood and properties would be directly affected by the Project were not informed. Moreover, project drafts and technical blueprints were not submitted to the Water Authority of Mongolia. Nor was the project approved by the Water Infrastructure Agency of Ulaanbaatar. Nor did the Tuul River Basin Administration green light the project. In short, the City Governor is attempting to bypass all the essential agencies that are responsible for protecting the Tuul River.
The Tuul River has several key features that should have been taken into account very seriously but were ignored by Governor Nyambaatar.
Firstly, The Tuul River is located on top of a large aquifer from which Ulaanbaatar residents receive their drinking water. Any consequent damage or pollution to the aquifer structure deep underground will negatively impact the quality and quantity of the city’s water supply. Ulaanbaatar, the largest city in Mongolia with a population of 1.8 million, is dependent on underground water and does not have an alternative, open water source. The Tuul River Highway Project is planning to insert at least 300 concrete pillars directly into the bedrocks passing through permeable rocks which will negatively impact the main aquifer in many places.
Secondly, the planned 32-km road on top and alongside the Tuul River will increase the River’s flood risk significantly. From day 1 of the project the implementing company started breaking down the Tuul River levee which was untouched since its construction in 1967-1977. Although the Ulaanbaatar city Governor was ordered by the Administrative Court of Ulaanbaatar to restore and protect the levee of the Tuul River near the Zaisan Bridge area, the Governor’s office has not started restoration of the levee at the stipulated place. Instead, his new project commenced with the breaking down of the levee at another location on the Tuul River.
Thirdly, the Tuul River is a spectacularly photogenic natural green space in Ulaanbaatar. Families love the Tuul. Residents of all ages like to spend time alongside the Tuul River during summer and winter. With the prospect of the new road project, the River’s tranquility will disappear, birds will depart, oxygen levels will drop in the river and air pollution, noise pollution and water pollution will become a huge new issues.
Fourth, The Tuul River Basin, like every other Mongolian river, has unstable soil. During winter time, the soil freezes and is lifted up. During warm season, it dips down. As a result, any concrete structure in a river basin area of Mongolia quickly develops cracks, and in worst cases the structures become severely compromised in a matter of a few years. So, the 2.3 trillion tugriks (650 billion USD) budget that the city is planning to spend for the Tuul River Highway project could end up being wasted as more and more cracks open on the road disqualifying it from use.
Dear Reader, I urge you to write or call to Mr. @Zandanshatar[email protected] and [email protected] and https://t.co/GCNXiZfgOT
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