No. 4 (15) February 2003

35th ICWC MEETING

Next 35th meeting of Interstate Coordination Water Commission was held on 7-8 of February 2003 in Khujand, Tajikistan, under presidency of Minister of Reclamation and Water Management of Tajikistan A.A. Nosirov.

Following issues were considered on the meeting:

1. About results of growing period 2002 as well as operation regime project for reservoirs cascade and water intake limit from Amudarya and Syrdarya river trunks for hydrologic period 2002-2003.
2. About BWO “Amudarya” activity and measures on its improvement.
3. About preparation of measures on improvement of ICWC activity.
4. About organization of scientific-practical conference in Almaty on May 5-7, 2003.
5. About agenda and place of 36th ICWC meeting.
6. About cost-estimate approval (with justifications) for ICWC executive bodies for 2003 (according to 34th ICWC meeting decision, pr. 34, p. 2.2.
7. About measures on realization of Head of the states of Central-Asian region of 6.10.2002 «About main trends of Program of concrete actions on improvement of ecological and social-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin”.
8. About perfection of limited water use principles in conditions of conducted reforms on agricultural enterprises restructuring.
9. About implementation of GEF Project Subcomponent A1 «Water and salt management at regional and national levels».

Meeting participants took into account report of BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” on realizing water intake limits and providing adopted reservoirs cascade operation regime at Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers for past growing period 2002. Water intake limits from Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers trunk were approved as well as recommended reservoirs cascade operation regimes for non-growing period 2002-2003 and growing period 2003. Also proposal of ICWC member A.D. Ryabtsev on acceleration of considering at expert level draft intergovernmental agreements on effective water-power resources use of Naryn-Syrdarya reservoirs in 2003.

Participants took into consideration information about BWO “Amudarya” activity and measures on its improvement as well as noted certain disadvantages in this activity. ICWC members were charged to promote implementation of BWO functional responsibilities.

Also “Program of ICWC activity improvement” prepared by SIC ICWC with involvement of BWOs “Amudarya” and “Syrdarya” was considered. SIC ICWC, BWOs “Amudarya” and “Syrdarya” were entrusted to prepare Program of ICWC activity improvement in linkage with “Program of Concrete Actions” approved by Head of States of Central Asia on 6.10.2002.

ICWC members approved activity of Organizational Committee Working Group on preparation of Central-Asian scientific-practical conference “Ecological sustainability and advanced approaches to water resources management in the Aral Sea basin” in Almaty. The Working Group was charged to inform regularly ICWC members about conference preparation. ICWC members will support financing of water management and other institutions’ involvement in this conference on territorial attribute.

On the meeting agenda of next 36th ICWC meeting was approved with account for expressed comments and supplements. 36th ICWC meeting will take place in Almaty in May 2003 simultaneously with scientific-practical conference.
ICWC members approved cost-estimate of ICWC executive bodies for 2003.

On IFAS Board decision country-IFAS members organized working groups on appropriate aspects “Program of Concrete Actions”, certified by Head of States of Central Asia on 06.10.2002. Taking into account importance of decision fulfillment joint participation of all ICWC members and bodies in preparation of proposals for IFAS Board on content of programs in development of “Plan of Concrete Actions”. Decision was taken to create working group on proposal preparation, including one representative from each ICWC member in rank of deputy heads of water management organizations as well as one representative from BWO and SIC in rank of their head. SIC ICWC was charged to create conditions for working group activity during February- beginning of March for joint proposals’ submission to EC IFAS.

It was underlined that in connection with restructuring of agricultural enterprises and formation of private and dekhkan farms works on water resources management, distribution, and effective use at on-farm level have been complicated. BWO “Amudarya” and “Syrdarya” were entrusted during two months period to address SIC ICWC for generalization proposals that take into account features and tendency of reforms on restructuring agricultural enterprises in each state. SIC ICWC was charged to develop program of works over states and find sponsors for financing.

Meeting participants noted that international consultant on Subcomponent A1«Royal Haskoning» together with RWG and NWG provided preparation of general report No. 1 of November 25, 2000 as well as supplement to it of March 2, 2001; regional reports #1 (Phase II) “Principles and trends of regional and national planning” and No. 2 (Phase III) “Regional needs and constraints”; national report No. 1 (Phase IV) “National water needs and their regulation scenarios”. ICWC working group estimated these reports, and then Coordination Commission of consultant, NWG, and ICWC working group made proper decision on general report No. 2.

Necessity of further study and conduction of consultations on improving water allocation principles with account for interests of each state and to provide guaranteed water supply for ecological and sanitary needs of the rivers, Priaralie, and Aral Sea was recognized on base of cooperation broadening in field of integrated effective use and management by the Aral Sea basin water-power resources.

During project implementation Consultant developed set of constructive proposals over main aspects for next discussion by states:

• inventory of transboundary objects and structures located on them was drawn up;
• scenarios of solving problems of water reservoirs Naryn-Syrdarya cascade were offered;
• modeling device was created to evaluate reality of national strategies;
• social importance of irrigation in lands productivity increase was clearly defined.

Consultant’s proposal of grounding economical expediency of water conservation, reduction of water and land resources salinity was taken into account.

WORKSHOP «INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA»

In ICWC Training Center from 11 to 15 of February 2003 the workshop on program “Integrated water resources management in Central Asia” was held.

In workshop opening following officials took part and addressed participants: OSCE Center Director in Tashkent A. Erozan, First Secretary of Canadian International Development Agency in Central Asia L. Krutier. IWMI office Director on Central Asia and Caucasus V. Horinkova, Ecotech Resource scientific expert (The Netherlands) J. De Schootter took part in workshop session and presented reports.

Representatives of oblast administration, heads and deputy heads of oblast and basin water divisions, chief experts of CAR water management bodies as well as NGO representatives participated in the workshop activity.

Workshop participants have noted broad thematic scope of program of issues about water management, effective water use in different economic sectors, in particular, irrigated agriculture. They emphasized historical and geographical generality of CAR countries united by common rivers Amudarya and Syrdarya as well as necessity of further regional cooperation development, regional organizations cooperation measures undertaken in region were appreciated. Proposition of necessity of strict differentiation of management functions, tasks and authorities at all water management levels from farm and local bodies level to regional organization level was supported. Necessity of wide public involvement in management process with redistribution and transfer of some functions and mandates was noted. Also positive tendency of organizing new democratic forms of management was underlined as kind of water user associations. In some region countries agricultural reform occurred without touching water management system, and formation of Water User Associations was emergency step as response for agrarian reform was also noted. Regarding this objective necessity of conducting reforms in complex should be part of state program and accompanied by required government support in economical and social aspects.

In the report Prof. V.A. Dukhovny underlined that effectiveness of developed recommendations on water resources use perfection will be significantly higher, if they will be developed directly before water users participation and more active involvement in process.

Workshop participants also noted that for given moment existing levers of NGO involvement stimulation in providing IWRM are insufficiently effective.

Currently regional organizations have insufficient rights for successful work. Also rights of water organizations at national level and water users rights should be foreseen. To provide integrated water resources management legal basis, which could give opportunity of IWRM provision in CAR, should be developed.

Everybody has right to live in normal environment and use water resources. Therefore every man must protect and improve environment for the sake of present and future generations.

To obtain opportunity to assert this responsibility citizens must have: access to information, right for participation in decision-making process, and access to justice concerning environmental issues.

Participants underlined necessity of more active work with public on different water aspects, population involvement in water management, intensive use of media mass abilities of highlighting effective water use problems, in particular, in extremely low water periods.

In result participants developed practical recommendations on effective water use and conservation, improvement of water management forms at different management levels with account for various methods, forms, and trends happening in the countries of water management system reformation.

MEETING OF EXPERTS FROM MacGILL UNIVERSITY “BRACE” CENTER AND SIC ICWC

Meeting of representatives from “Brace” Center on water resources management (MacGill University, Canada) and ICWC Scientific-Information Center was held on March 7 in Tashkent. Main meeting result was signing of memorandum on project «Addressing Water Scarcity and Drought in Central Asia Due to Climate Change».

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will finance this project. Project executors will be SIC ICWC, Committee for Water Resources of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Agriculture and Water management of Uzbekistan, and Uzglavgidromet.

Project activity zone – Ferghana Valley and Hunger Steppe.

See project details – in one of next issues.