Water resources and using them in Central Asian Countries in the Rivers of Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Basin

Since many centuries all countries in Central Asian Region are using water resources formed on the territories of modern Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic. Water resources of the Aral Sea Basin formed from renewable surface and underground water of natural origin and as well as return water coming from the economic activity. All water resources of the region confining to rivers of Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Basin.

Water resources, in terms of volume, quality and mode of use, are the most important part of the strategy to use the total water of the region in the interest of all countries of the basin.

Giving the data on division of natural water resources at national (local) and transboundary level, it is necessary to note that in accepted interstate practice relation between Central Asian countries on water distribution, coming out of more reasonable principle that all water resources in Aral Sea Basin are common and must be shared between countries on mutual agreement.

Insufficiency of water resources is a main problem and question of safety of whole region.
Water is a key factor for welfare of the countries of Central Asia. The population of Central Asia is growing, but the amount of water and irrigated land are nearly remaining unchangeable. Life conditions of people and future development of the region are defined by availability of clean drinking water. Natural unevenness of water resources distribution in region brings to straight opposite approach in terms of the mode for using waterworks facilities erected in the upstream of Amu-Darya and Sir-Darya Rivers.

The Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan is advantageous to use these facilities in the mode of energy generation, releasing water at peak periods of their consumption disregarding the interest of states located in the downstream. As a result, hydro-technical structures located on territories of neighboring states providing irrigation and melioration systems of Uzbekistan, it appears the dependency from their action regarding the use of water resources in the Republic.
In some countries of the region, where the most water resources of the region is formed, it is called to consider water resources as commodity and sell them at market prices to countries located in the downstream. Given circumstance contradicts with principles of international law in the rational use of transboundary rivers and may bring to unpredictable consequences.

The estimation by GEF WEMP (2002) shows that the Kyrgyz Republic considers water is as an economic commodity, having a cost, which is possible to sell and considers that “their water” is used with profit by countries located in the downstream. However, availability of the natural hydrologic cycle, rights of water users and fact that, maximum energy profit obtained by usage of Tokhtakul, the Kyrgyz Republic gets because of losses, which are appeared in countries located in the downstream. It makes doubt to trust that, water is possible to be considered as economic market commodity.

Countries located in middle and down stream have their historical right to use the water from transboundary rivers. The construction of Tokhtakul has not changed this situation, only provided guaranteed water supply and besides, production of electricity. Clashed with needs for more rational water use and adaptation to changed mode of operation of Tokhtakul reservoir, middle and down flow countries aim their efforts at providing guaranteed water supply and reducing water use. There was changed the structure of sowing, with significant reduction of sowing rice, as well as were taken steps in reduction of specific expenses of irrigated lands in Uzbekistan. The priority right to economic drinking water supply in all countries of the region, but main contributors and consumers of water management facilities of the Aral Sea Basin is irrigation and hydro-energy; departmental interests do occasionally not coincide in the region.

The hydro-energy power of resources in river basin is 146 x 109 kW/h, however consumption of their usage is small, since high waters are long and conditioned by melting of snow and glacier, coinciding on time with intensive water supply points to irrigation. The continuous growth of water intake for irrigation from rivers of the Basin is main reason to Aral Sea crisis. At present, it is not possible to stabilize the water level of the sea, its level decreasing, which depends on runoff volume, filtration water from delta of Amu-Darya and Small Sea that leads to increasing mineralization of water in the sea. Reduction of water areas of the Aral Sea in its place increases saline desert.

The main problem of the region remains the question of joint management, rational use and protection of water resources in the Aral Sea Basin.

Sad example of the irrational use of water resources is a problem of drying up the Aral Sea, where the global ecological catastrophe is coming up and this problem is not possible to solve without large scale assistance provided by the international community.

More active participation of international partners in the implementation of concrete programs and projects that directed to improvement of ecological situation of the Aral Sea Basin could render the assistance to normalization of eco-system of the Aral Sea.

As is known, agriculture of Uzbekistan completely depends on water that accumulated in winter period by up flow of Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Rivers.

The policy of Uzbekistan on water resources is targeted at rational water use and protection of water resources, increasing the efficiency and reliability of water resource management of the country, guaranteed water supply and rendering the necessary service for society and natural eco-system by allocation of resources for reconstruction of existing infrastructures, their operation and technical services.

The main priority of water resources activity as follows:

- water saving in all sphere of the consumption and improvement quality of water resources;

- development of water supply systems to qualitative drinking water for population;

- land improvement  - maintenance of favorable water and saline regime in root zone;

- prevention of water and wind erosion of the ground, rational use and protection of plants covered the hills,  desert and pasture zones;

- softening negative impact of ecological and economical crisis in the Aral Sea based on comprehensive decision interconnected regional and national problems.

The effort of the Republic of Uzbekistan on creation new national legislation on purpose to giving sustainable development got high appreciation. During sixteen years of independence in Uzbekistan was designed the strategy for environmental protection, established management system for using natural resources and development of nature protection policy.

Adopted more than 80 laws and acts, directly or indirectly related to environmental protection and regulatory issues of management of rational use of natural resources. Taking this in consideration and irrigation of sown area in Uzbekistan, government of the country conducting a directed work on water and energy resource uses in the region. For this purpose, it is annually signed bilateral and multilateral agreements on distribution of water and energy resources in Central Asia.    

In addition to that, it is necessary to note that not all provided in the “Scheme» actions are at present executing.
An accounting value of disposable water resources of Uzbekistan is established 63,02 km3, but as was said earlier, it does not exceed 59,2 km3 or 90% practically in modern condition. In years, differing increased to water, Uzbekistan consumes water until 63 km3, including for irrigation 59 km3.  

Nowadays rational use and distribution of the water and energy resources in Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Rivers Basin remain the most complicated regional problem in Central Asia.

Today everybody knows what an important role and task play watercourse of Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Rivers. Under their use the most important condition is unconditional observance by countries of the region, Agreement between Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan about cooperation in the sphere of joint management of use and protection of water resources of interstate sources (Almati, February 18, 1992). As well as UN Convention on protection and use the transboundary streams and international lakes on March 17, 1992 (Helsinki) and about right unnavigable type use the international streams on May 21, 1997 (New York). Necessary to enforce equitable and rational a water balance, respecting interests’ countries of the region, with provision for international status transboundary streams, runoff through territory of the Central Asia.

The construction of new hydro-energetic structures in the upstream of the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Rivers must be realized with provision for irrigation regime and ecological security.

Therefore each country should act considering requirements of the abovementioned documents of UN, which envisaging and planning the construction of new hydro-energetic structures with obligatory attraction of respected, neutral international auditing organization for undertaking the estimation of the Feasibility Studies and designs of these structures with obligatory observance of environmental requirements and keeping of established watercourse volumes and regimes in these rivers.

In the event of the change of condition of transboundary sources of the main water resources in Central Asia, where lives more than 50 mln. people, can face incidental on its scale ecological catastrophe, as well as with problem in ensuring population and agriculture of the countries in region with drinking and irrigation water and system drought and with all resulting consequence.  

All these tasks and questions regarding provision of water and energy balance in Central Asia must be solved on mutual understanding, dialogue and consensus between countries of the region.

Any disregarding of these principles can bring unpredictable ecological, economic, social and political consequences in the region.

Apparently that goal directed work on growing hydro-energetic powers on transboundary rivers in medium-term prospects, under the implementation of proposed projects will negatively affect the water supply system, situation in agro-industrial complex and ecological balance in the region, and in the first turn it will have an impact on Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Therefore all decisions on use the water from transboundary rivers, including hydro-energetic structures, must be in obligatory order taking into account these interests.  Otherwise it can more aggravate the situation with provision of water to downstream of the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya Rivers, accelerate the ecological catastrophe of the Aral Sea and make practically impossible for million of inhabitants to live here in the region.

So, it is necessary to provide the mechanism of the interstate co-ordination on proposed projects for construction of HPS and the other hydro technical structures, changing established regime of discharge water to transboundary streams. 

Coming from requirements of convention of UN, feasibility studies of new hydro technical structures in transboundary rivers basin must be subjected to the obligatory objective expert operation on the part of neutral international auditing organization. It should be given guarantees that structures will not have an irreparable ecological consequence, and will respect the established balance of use of watercourse by all countries located in the middle and downstream of the rivers.

World Bank and Asian Development Bank are supporting and keeping this principle position. And Uzbekistan hopes that line these more respected international financial institutions will be an example for other organizations and states that will allow consolidating, finally, social-economic security and stability in region.

At present the most complicated water-ecological situation is formed in Aydar-Arnasay System of Lake, where a decrease in water level and an increase in its miniralization are observed.

This in medium-term prospects can bring to one more zone of the ecological crisis comparable to consequence with the disappearing of the Aral Sea that will negatively influence the situation not only in Uzbekistan, but also in Kazakhstan.

In order to solve this problem it is necessary to provide the constant inflow of fresh water from Syr-Darya River in sufficient volume that will allow saving the established eco-system in this region and vastly improve he water-ecological situation in our country.

In these purpose it is necessary to study the question of making relevant changes to draft Interstate agreement on use of water and energy resources between Central-Asian countries, including Syr-Darya River Basin with the purpose of legal recognition of Aydar-Arnasay System Lake as an integral part of eco-system of Syr-Darya River Basin on the regional and international levels.

Only with such an objective approach can provide the success in the implementation of projects on water and energy resource use of the region.