On the Situation Concerning Use of Water Resources

December 22, 2008 - 0:0

All water resources of the Central Asian rivers are distributed within “The Scheme of complex utilization of water resources of the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers” which agreed by all countries of the region. Uzbekistan, as the country with the largest population, consumes more than 50% of all water resources of the Central Asian rivers. Along with this more than 85% of water resources of the republic are formed outside of its territory (in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), and the main water reservoirs that regulate the flow of the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers as well as large water facilities of the Republic of Uzbekistan are located on the territory of neighboring states. Taking into account the volume, quality and regime of water resources, they are an important part of the strategy of utilization common waters of the region in the interests of all countries of the Aral Sea basin. Citing data on the separation of natural water resources on national (local) and trans-border it is necessary to note that according to the practice of international relations of Central Asian countries on water partition, proceeding from a more reasonable principle that all water resources in the basin of the Aral Sea are common and are to be divided between the countries on mutual agreement. However, for over the last decades the countries of Central Asia, especially at lower reaches of the basic waterways of region - Syrdarya and Amudarya - suffer from lack of water and its socially economic consequences. Various and ambiguous approaches in sphere of water resources management interfere with steady development, lead to ecological catastrophes accidents and even to disputed situations. The fate of Aral Sea may serve as an example. Its drying up bears tragic consequences not only for the Central Asian region, but also for entire Eurasian space. The unreasonable use of water resources for over the last century has brought about the threat of disappearance of one of the largest inland reservoirs in the world. Yet there was no case when one generation could witness the perishing of an entire sea. Thus, with 1960 the surface of Aral Sea came down to 43% of initial area, a 40 000 square km of sea surface has passed to a land. And the most part of this surface is covered by salts, and first of all, easily transported sulfates which during the sandy and dust storms that became frequent and stronger recently, are transferred on greater distances up to glacial zone of Tian Shan where they except for other things accelerate process of thawing of glaciers. By reason of salt aeration, bulk of the population of suffered areas is affected by eye illnesses and respiratory diseases. Almost 80% of children younger than 11 years old who reside in the delta of the Syrdarya River suffer from eye illnesses and respiratory diseases. A chronic shortage of drinking and irrigating water, the salt and dust storms formed on a surface of the drained bottom, and the whole complex of other environmental problems undermines a basis of a life in Aral, causes sharp social and humanitarian problems. The destruction of Aral Sea also negatively impacts climate change far outside region. Annually from shoaled part of Aral millions tons of salt and a dust go up into air, which serves as a reason for pollution of air and soil in vast territories. Now Central Asia is in conditions of rather water-scarce period when water on the main rivers of Amudarya and Syrdarya does not exceed 70% of average annual norms. This situation undermines opportunities to provide necessary volumes of water for drinking purposes and irrigation. Meanwhile, 65% of population of region lives in a countryside area and depends on efficiency of agriculture. Uzbekistan undertakes significant efforts to improve situation in the Aral Sea region. It includes the policy of the Government on rational water management, broad implementation of water-saving technologies, supporting eco-system in the Aral Sea region, strengthenin


1