JOINT PROJECT “ASSESSMENT OF AFGHAN CRISIS IMPACT ON AMUDARYA RIVER
WATER QUALITY IN TURKMENISTAN” OF THE TURKMEN MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION AND UNDP
Afghanistan is now undergoing a serious environmental crisis. The main problems are soil erosion, deforestation, water and soil pollution, epidemiological spreading of biological agents leading to diseases.
Since October 2002 the Turkmen Ministry of Nature Protection together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have been implementing this project in order to assess the impact of crisis occurrences in Afghanistan on quality of water in Amudarya river in Turkmenistan.
The main objectives of the project include:
- to assess the impact of Afghan crisis on Turkmen Amudarya river part, if it takes place
- to create a system of river water quality monitoring and analysis in Turkmen-Afghan border crossing point
- to study trends in river water quality on each of next observation stations (Atamurat, Turkmentabat, Birata)
- to enhance potential of analytical laboratories of the Ministry of Nature Protection in regard to monitoring of Amudarya river water quality.
Operational experience of analytical laboratories at the Ministries of Nature Protection, Water Resources, Health and Medical Industry, Turkmenhydromet, Turkmenstandarts, State Committee “Turkmegeology”, BVO “Amudarya” and others, used analysis methods, level of provision with laboratory equipment and devices, human potential, and the existing system of Amudarya river water quality monitoring were studied within the implementation of this project.
As a result of these activities it was determined that water quality was not monitored at entry transect Kelif by any ministries and authorities, and the analyses at transects Atamyrat, Turkmenabad and Birata were carried out unsteadily and mainly with defining water physical properties, main ions, biogenic substances and pollutants of organic origin.
To identify possible contamination of water in Amudarya river, the project organized monthly water quality monitoring at entry transect Kelif, and further for evaluating tendencies of change in water quality and self-purification capacity on stations Atamyrat, Turkmenabad and Birata with defining the following components: organoleptic characteristics; physical parameters; overall salinity and main ions; biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, water hardness; pesticides; biogenic substances; ions of heavy metals; specific substances; microbiological characteristics.
Water samples are taken in view of rate of advance from transect to transect. The analyses of water samples are carried out in the laboratories of State Committee “Turkmengeology”, Turkmen Ministry of Nature Protection and Lebap sanitary-epidemic station, provided with modern laboratory equipment and devices.
U. Saparov, Project Manager
HOPE FOR SAVING OF THE DISAPPEARING SEA
In 2000 Brace Center for Water Management (McGill University) received first financial assistance from CIDA to help Central Asia states implement the program for reformation in the field of integrated water resources management. The program achieved great successes and obtained additional financial support from CIDA to carry out pilot field researches in improving irrigation water management and farming systems for food production in Ferghana Valley in the context of growing drought.
The seminar on the project implemented in Central Asia with the financial support of CIDA was held on 20 November in the McGill University.
The presentation was focused on the participation of the university in solving the Aral Sea basin problems, and also attempts to help the region get out from hopeless situation and become perspective.
SEMINAR AND WORKING MEETING
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF IWRM PRINCIPLES IN CENTRAL ASIA
The seminar and working meeting, organized jointly by UN ESCAP, SDC, SIC ICWC and IWMI, was held in Tashkent on November 26-28, 2003. The objectives of the seminar are:
- to generalize experiences of Central Asian countries in the introduction of separate IWRM elements (hydrographic management, organization of WUAs, improvement of water use effectiveness);
- to review preliminary results of two-year activity in the execution of “IWRM-Ferghana” Project;
- to clarify the purposes and tasks of UN ESCAP – SIC ICWC Project in Central Asia.
Representatives of UN ESCAP, SDC, State Department of USA, IWMI, SIC ICVWC, “IWRM-Ferghana” Project took part in the seminar.
The seminar activity was opened by SIC ICWC Director Professor V.A. Dukhovny, who noted that the accomplished work on the implementation of “IWRM-Ferghana” Project was of a great importance in forming the respect of governmental organizations and water users to water, improving its productivity, equitable and planned water allocation. However, there is a certain narrowness that is it covers only agricultural users and holdings in the limited area in Ferghana Valley and surface water resources. Public involvement is still in incipient state.
It is very important that IWRM principles to be interpreted by everyone as cooperation between water users, community and governmental organizations with the assignment of responsibility degree depending on the level of hierarchy – basin as a whole or separate system.
This seminar demonstrates opportunities of serious cooperation and interaction between different projects, supported by donors.
SDC/ICWC/IWMI “IWRM-Ferghana” Project on the example of introducing IWRM on three pilot canals in the oblasts of three 3 republics will allow to learn useful lessons – both positive and negative – from two-year activity of a large staff and to demonstrate the attempt of society to introduce IWRM. This experience will be used in ESCAP pilot project, which plans to direct political opinion, using strategic planning and management methods, and to show how this direction can be developed in more socially stressed zones in Central Asia.
It is necessary to disseminate the acquired experience over Ferghana Valley and river downstream areas in Khorezm, Tashauz, Kzyl-Orda oblasts and Karakalpakstan.
Ti LeHuu, R. Watts, I. Makin, Kh. Ishanov spoke with welcoming speeches to seminar participants.
Central Asia has a high potential in the application of strategic planning principle and achievement of sustainable development. The achievements in IWRM make the region attractive to donors, Ti LeHuu said.
Telling about the necessity of spreading IWRM, R. Watts said that the US will participate in the IWRM project on Amudarya delta, pursuing the main goals - access to clean water, sanitation, improving water use and its productivity, sustainable development.
Ti LeHuu in its presentation “Practical use of strategic planning instruments in pilot objects in Central Asia and brief review of experience in other parts of Asia” dwelled on history of strategic planning development, shared experience in planning at basin level, highlighted approaches and instruments of management, marked increased interest in decentralization and participation in water resources management, defined capacity building as the instrument of progress. Examples of successful use of strategic planning (SP) in Rhine river basin, in national development and use of water resources, introduction into the process of law development in USA, experience of Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos were given. In conclusion, the reporter noted that ICWC through SIC had provided great opportunities to introduce strategic planning method for integrated river basin management and prosperity of all the countries in the Aral Sea basin.
Prof. V.A. Dukhovny in its paper “Generalization of IWRM experience in Central Asia countries and tasks of its development” marked that Uzbekistan had experience in integrated water resources management in Hunger Steppe in area of 320,000 ha, where all water resources were had been accounted, high water use effectiveness had been achieved, accurate water supply and allocation accounting had been kept, but self-government of lower system links, self-financing and public participation had not existed. On the example of IWRM application in Ferghana Valley, general principles were worked out, first positive results that are enough for spreading integrated management over the entire valley and river downstream areas were obtained. Concrete achievements in IWRM introduction were noted and future tasks were designated. Strategic planning and management is the further step of IWRM development. For passing it successfully it is necessary to accurately present and formulate vision for the next 20-25 years, goals, priorities of measures, resources availability.
In the papers of V.I. Sokolov and M. ul Hassan “Preliminary results of IWRM project activity in Ferghana Valley” attention was focused on the need for the involvement of the public in water resources management at all levels of hierarchy and coverage of all water resources components. The acquired results of applying IWRM principles on pilot canals and demonstration sites as well as of WUA activity give opportunity to disseminate IWRM principles over entire Ferghana Valley. Legal and organizational base for WUA functioning and Canal Water Committee activities was prepared, the system of indicators for activity assessment was worked out.
Then the course of “IWRM-Ferghana” Project implementation was reviewed by the following directions:
1st direction: pilot canals. N.N. Mirzayev presented his paper. He noted that the most important results of the activity during the current year are transfer to canal management based on hydrographic principle and creation of South Ferghana, Aravan-Akbura and Khodjabakirgan canal authorities, development and discussion of draft provisions on Canal Water Committee, social mobilization and holding of meetings on establishing Canal Water Committees.
One of the main directions to be organized in 2004 is to establish an accurate order of activities according to plans of water allocation in canals system, and to adjust water supply, while introducing all this complex on pilot canals. This will allow to reach coordination with other hierarchy levels, significantly lower head intakes, and improve water allocation uniformity and equitability.
2nd direction: IWRM aspects at WUA level. The report of M.A. Pinkhasov elucidates the work done on WUA creation on pilot canals, e.g. “Akbarabad” on South Ferghana canal, “Zarafshan” on Gulyakandoz canal, “Karmme Too Akburasi” and earlier established “Zhapalak” on Aravan-Akbura canal. The principles of WUA formation, activity with co-founders, composition of foundation documents (by-law, contracts, estimates of costs, documents on constitutive meeting) are stated. Experience of creating system of water allocation and plans of water use are illustrated, analyses of WUA water use indicators, deviations from the plan and reasons for them are given.
3rd direction: aspects of water productivity on pilot sites. Sh.Sh. Mukhamedjanov, speaking concerning this issue, reported on the concept, main approaches to the implementation of the set tasks, and the outputs of the activities on improving irrigation water and land use productivity under “IWRM-Ferghana” Project. He noticed that it was necessary to focus on irrigation water use technology and quality of agrotechnical measures as key factors of water and land productivity in agricultural production. For improving water productivity, it is necessary to follow water saving principles and apply traditional water saving techniques. Creating consultative services to spread up-to-date experience and IWRM-Ferghana Project experience is of particular significance in increasing land productivity on farms.
Discussions were held in regard to all the papers.
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