water issues central asia

8/8/2019 Water Issues Central Asia

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WATER ISSUES OFWATER ISSUES OFCENTRAL ASIANCENTRAL ASIAN

STATES : TRIGGERS OFSTATES : TRIGGERS OFCONFLICTCONFLICT


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DisclaimerDisclaimer

Material given in the presentation hasMaterial given in the presentation hasbeen taken form various Internet been taken form various Internet

Resources like ICG reports etcResources like ICG reports etc


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S equence of the PaperS equence of the Paper

IntroductionIntroduction Availability of Water Resources in Central Asia Availability of Water Resources in Central AsiaWater management systemWater management system

Problems in S haring WaterProblems in S haring WaterTensions Related to Water IssuesTensions Related to Water IssuesConclusions of the S tudyConclusions of the S tudy

Way ForwardWay ForwardConclusionConclusion


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Water and Central AsiaWater and Central Asia

Water has always been man s most Water has always been man s most indispensable natural resourceindispensable natural resource

Central Asia is recognized for its abundant waterCentral Asia is recognized for its abundant water

resource, vast steppes, green pasturesresource, vast steppes, green pastures


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Aral S ea Basin Aral S ea Basin


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Amu Darya Amu Darya

2400 km long, Qaraqum Canal, Karshi Canal, and Bukhara Canal


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S yr DaryaS yr Darya

2212 km long, canal system built in 18 th century, further expanded by S oviets


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Water Management S ystemWater Management S ystemDuring S oviet During S oviet--era Water and Energy management era Water and Energy management

was done directly by Moscow through a complexwas done directly by Moscow through a complexbarter systembarter systemS hortly after independence, the five countriesS hortly after independence, the five countries

agreed to maintain theS

oviet agreed to maintain theS

oviet--era quota systemera quota systemInterstate Coordinating Water Commission (ICWC)Interstate Coordinating Water Commission (ICWC)that was set up in 1992 but failed to take intothat was set up in 1992 but failed to take into

account changing political and economic relationsaccount changing political and economic relationsS pecial Program for the Economies of Central AsiaS pecial Program for the Economies of Central Asia(S PECA) is also working on water management (S PECA) is also working on water management

International Fund toS

ave the AralS

ea (IFAS

)International Fund toS

ave the AralS

ea (IFAS

)


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Water and Central AsiaWater and Central Asia Agriculture continues to be mainstay of Central Agriculture continues to be mainstay of Central Asian states economy Asian states economyWater use has increased rapidly since theWater use has increased rapidly since theCentral Asian states became independent inCentral Asian states became independent in

1991 and is now it is at an unsustainable level1991 and is now it is at an unsustainable levelCompetition for water is increasing at anCompetition for water is increasing at analarming ratealarming rate

Irrigation systems have decayed so severely that Irrigation systems have decayed so severely that half of all water never reaches crops, yet waterhalf of all water never reaches crops, yet waterdemand continues to soardemand continues to soar


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Conflicts Over Water IssuesConflicts Over Water Issues

Problems of increasing demand andProblems of increasing demand anddeclining supplies have beendeclining supplies have beencompounded by the failure of the region scompounded by the failure of the region snations to work togethernations to work together

Annual cycle of disputes has developed Annual cycle of disputes has developedbetween the three downstream countriesbetween the three downstream countries

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan andKazakhstan, Turkmenistan and

UzbekistanUzbekistan that are all heavythat are all heavyconsumers of water for growing cotton,consumers of water for growing cotton,and the upstream nationsand the upstream nations KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan

and Tajikistanand Tajikistan


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Areas of Tension Areas of Tension - - Central Asia NationsCentral Asia Nations

Lack of coherent water management;Lack of coherent water management;Failure to abide by or adapt water quotas;Failure to abide by or adapt water quotas;NonNon--implemented and untimely barterimplemented and untimely barter

agreements and payments;agreements and payments;Uncertainty over future infrastructure plansUncertainty over future infrastructure plansLack of trust, transparency and accountabilityLack of trust, transparency and accountability


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Areas of Tension Areas of Tension - - Central Asia NationsCentral Asia NationsControl and enforcement mechanisms no longerControl and enforcement mechanisms no longer

function and the various countries now often accusefunction and the various countries now often accuseeach other of exceeding quotaseach other of exceeding quotasKyrgyzstan and Tajikistan say that the threeKyrgyzstan and Tajikistan say that the threedownstream countries are all exceeding quotasdownstream countries are all exceeding quotasS erious tensions have centred around barterS erious tensions have centred around barteragreements and paymentsagreements and paymentsUpstream countries trade water to Uzbekistan andUpstream countries trade water to Uzbekistan andKazakhstan for energy in the form of gas, coal etcKazakhstan for energy in the form of gas, coal etc

Attempts by Kyrgyzstan to demand payment for Attempts by Kyrgyzstan to demand payment forwater have been resisted by the downstreamwater have been resisted by the downstream

countriescountries


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Areas of Tension Areas of Tension - - Central Asia NationsCentral Asia NationsTensions over water and energy have contributed to aTensions over water and energy have contributed to a

generally uneasy political climate in Central Asiagenerally uneasy political climate in Central Asia

Not only do they tend to provoke hostile rhetoric, but Not only do they tend to provoke hostile rhetoric, but

they have also prompted suggestions that thethey have also prompted suggestions that thecountries are willing to defend their interests by forcecountries are willing to defend their interests by force

if necessaryif necessary

Uzbekistan has carried out exercises that lookUzbekistan has carried out exercises that look

suspiciously like practice runs at capturing thesuspiciously like practice runs at capturing the

Toktogul Reservoir (Kyrgyzstan)Toktogul Reservoir (Kyrgyzstan)


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Areas of Tension Areas of Tension - - Central Asia NationsCentral Asia NationsDownstream countries are more powerful militarilyDownstream countries are more powerful militarily

and economically than upstream countries, anand economically than upstream countries, an

imbalance that has been present in most waterimbalance that has been present in most water

conflictsconflicts


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Findings of the S tudyFindings of the S tudyNo major shortage of water in the regionNo major shortage of water in the regionMismanagement and corruption are rampant Mismanagement and corruption are rampant Most states want greater share of water without Most states want greater share of water without giving due consideration to other states giving due consideration to other states

requirements and also without spending money forrequirements and also without spending money formaintenance of water management systemmaintenance of water management systemWide gap between requirements of upper andWide gap between requirements of upper and

lower riparianlower riparian


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Conclusions of S tudyConclusions of S tudyMistrust amongst all five states on water issueMistrust amongst all five states on water issueInequitable water allocation creating social tensionInequitable water allocation creating social tensionReliable data on water resource is not availableReliable data on water resource is not availableIrrigation system needs to be revampedIrrigation system needs to be revamped

There is considerable loss of water; these lossesThere is considerable loss of water; these lossesneed to be controlledneed to be controlledManagement of water must be reformed toManagement of water must be reformed toincrease accountability and transparency asincrease accountability and transparency ascurrently the public, NGOs and the media have littlecurrently the public, NGOs and the media have littleaccess to information or the decisionaccess to information or the decision- -makingmakingprocessprocess


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Conclusions of S tudyConclusions of S tudyEfficient water management requires quotas that areEfficient water management requires quotas that aresustainable and are backed up by enforcement sustainable and are backed up by enforcement mechanisms and sanctions against violators.mechanisms and sanctions against violators.Water availability forecasting needs to be done.Water availability forecasting needs to be done.There is a need to monitor climate change, possibleThere is a need to monitor climate change, possibledrought etcdrought etc

A comprehensive approach is needed that addresses A comprehensive approach is needed that addressesenergy, agriculture and demographic aspects of energy, agriculture and demographic aspects of

water usewater useWater management is not an engineering orWater management is not an engineering ortechnical issue only, it requires political solutiontechnical issue only, it requires political solution


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Way ForwardWay ForwardS

trong institutions for management, monitoring andS

trong institutions for management, monitoring anddistribution of water resources are necessary todistribution of water resources are necessary toaddress the water issues. A multifaceted, alladdress the water issues. A multifaceted, allencompassing approach should be launched toencompassing approach should be launched to

improve water management, revamp water courses,improve water management, revamp water courses,repair hydal structures and control water lossesrepair hydal structures and control water lossesInterstate Commission for Water CoordinationInterstate Commission for Water Coordination(ICWC) of Central Asia should be more potent to(ICWC) of Central Asia should be more potent to

manage the water resources and if necessarymanage the water resources and if necessaryimpose fine or take other punitive measures onimpose fine or take other punitive measures ondefaulters. A system of accountability anddefaulters. A system of accountability andtransparency must be enforcedtransparency must be enforced


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Efforts should be made to build trust among theEfforts should be made to build trust among thestates. It would require political measures besidesstates. It would require political measures besidesfree access to all stakeholders. There should also befree access to all stakeholders. There should also bemore transparency in availability of data regardingmore transparency in availability of data regardingwater resourceswater resources

Upper riparian be given oil and gas as per the barterUpper riparian be given oil and gas as per the bartersystem. Water quotas may be renegotiated to makesystem. Water quotas may be renegotiated to makethese more sustainablethese more sustainableMore dams be constructed by lower riparian so as toMore dams be constructed by lower riparian so as toconserve water during winters when upper riparianconserve water during winters when upper riparianrelease it to meet their requirement of electricityrelease it to meet their requirement of electricityRogun Dam in Tajikistan should be constructed,Rogun Dam in Tajikistan should be constructed,however misgivings of the lower riparian behowever misgivings of the lower riparian beaddressedaddressed

Way ForwardWay Forward


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ConclusionConclusion

Trust Trust TransparencyTransparency

Accountability Accountability


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Thank YouThank You

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