OPENING OF A TRAINING CENTER AT SIC ICWC KAZAKHSTAN OFFICE
An inauguration of a Training Center (TC) at SIC ICWC Kazakhstan Office in Almaty city took place on 30 January 2006. The opening of a TC became possible due to financial support of the USAID. The Kazakh National Agrarian University (KazNAU) allocated accommodation for permanent location of TC within the precincts of the university that will ensure continual replenishment of TC activities by both the teaching staff and students of the university. Thus, the target audience of TC will consist of not only water specialists, but also senior students of the KazNAU, being trained for specialties in water resources management and use.
Holding a first seminar on “Cooperation of Kazakhstan with neighboring countries in transboundary river water resources use and protection: current state and ways for development” was confined to the opening of TC in Almaty city.
The participants were welcomed by Chairman of the Kazakh Committee for Water Resources A.D. Ryabtsev, Rector of KazNAU T.I. Yespolov, and Head of the Kazakh Direction for the Executive Committee of the IFAS A.N. Nurushev, USAID representative David Bash and Director of SIC ICWC Kazakhstan office Prof. N.K. Kipshakbayev.
Heads of all the basin water organizations in Kazakhstan, teachers of the KazNAU, representatives of the Kazgidroproyekt and Institute of Geography of Kazakhstan took part in the seminar.
The theme of the first seminar was selected together with the Kazakh Committee for Water Resources with a view to discuss problems and prospects of water sector development in Kazakhstan, analyze the carried out activities, and generalize positive experiences in water sector of Kazakhstan and developed countries.
On the first day of the seminar, common lectures on problems of transboundary rivers were delivered. In his lecture “Present experience in transboundary river water resources management”, A.D. Ryabtsev stated the main problems in Syrdarya, Chui and Talas river basins, key directions of collaboration with Central Asian states, Russia and China on water management issues. The lecturer presented the results of phase I of the project “Regulation of the Syrdarya River Channel and Northern Aral Sea”, including the completion of a dam on the Northern Aral Sea and replenishment of the Small Sea up to altitude mark 41.3. He also elucidated measures planned in project phase II, which provide for raising the level of the Northern Aral Sea up to altitude mark 46.0; constructing a hydro power plant at Aklak waterworks facility with an annual electric power output up to 23 MW; restoring and constructing dams; straightening the Syrdarya river channel and so on. A.D. Ryabtsev noted that the current water resources management is not possible without universal introduction of IWRM at both the transboundary and national levels. Among others, it is necessary to work in irrigated lands with lower link, which the Kazakh Committee for Water Resources is planning to develop with the support of the European Union allocates 1 million euro to Kazakhstan to set up and maintain water user associations.
Prof. V.A. Dukhovny delivered a lecture on the “Problems of international watercourses and ways to solve them”.
“Prospects for water resources regulation in the Syrdarya river basin on the territory of Kazakhstan” were expounded by Director of the Institute “Kazgiprovodkhoz” L.N. Dmitriyev. In particular, designs for construction of Koksaray compensating reservoir were submitted for discussion. The lecture caused a heated argument on social, economic, environmental and political aspects of the construction. The participants came to a conclusion that all possible alternatives should be studied before the beginning of the construction.
On the next days of the seminar, problems of water resources management in river basins in Kazakhstan were considered in detail, based on lectures delivered by the heads of respective BWOs. It should be noted that the field of activities of all BWOs, except Nura-Sarysu basin, covers regions adjacent to other countries. Thus, BWOs in their daily activities are faced with the issues of transboundary water resources management, and first feel heaviness of all unsolved issues.
The problems of water resources management in the Syrdarya river basin cause the greatest anxiety that were stated in the lectures of A.D. Ryabtsev, Prof. V.A. Dukhovny, LN. Dmitriyev, G.B. Sarsenbayev, and A.K. Karlykhanov.
In general, the lecturers noted positive sides of cooperation with the Russian Federation, with which an agreement on transboundary water bodies was signed in 1992. Three special protocols on joint use and protection of transboundary water resources and coordination of water-management activities in the Ural, Tobol and Ishim river basins were adopted to this agreement. The work is done with the framework of regular meetings of the bilateral commission.
Relationship with China is being improved: a bilateral agreement was concluded in 2001, which became first agreement signed by China with an adjacent country on water resources. Undoubtedly, there are issues unsolved, but Kazakhstan managed to sign an agreement, agree on exchange of 10 water quality indicators. The bilateral commission regularly gathers at its meetings.
Though Kazakhstan is the participant of multilateral and bilateral agreements on water resources use, the problem of national implementation remains, i.e. assumed obligations should have real mechanisms to implement at intra-state level.
In all the basins, water quality problems are causing anxiety. The paper of B.K. Yesekina showed the situation with water quality problem in transboundary rivers; moreover, in their speeches, all the participants elucidated this issue. In particular, it was noted that in Kazakhstan there are no technical capabilities to measure water quality by all indicators that complicates water resources sharing in transboundary basins. For example, Russia receives data on 3 indicators only, and China on 10 ones that is not enough.
In this connection, A.D. Ryabtsev noted that in general, environmental problems are very urgent, in the Republic of Kazakhstan there is a sufficient normative base, problems of execution and a lack of relevant powers of the Committee to solve these problems from the perspective of water resources protection.
During the discussion such issues were raised as absence of a clear national water strategy in Kazakhstan, permanent shortage of funds to maintain ICWC executive bodies, insufficient attention to water conservation, lack f gauging stations on rivers.
D. Ziganshina
REGIONAL ON-LINE DISCUSSION “GENDER ASPECTS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION”
The development of long-term sustainable mechanisms that could make it possible to hold consultations with the public on the environment is now a problem at regional and national levels. Thereupon the CARNet in association with the Initiative on Gender and Water in Central Asia and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the CIS is launching a discussion on “Gender Aspects in Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection”.
The discussion is divided into three subtopics:
- “Gender Mainstreaming in the Implementation of Environmental Programs”, moderated by Aleksandra Sergeyeva, ÎÎ “El Agartuu”, Kyrgyzstan.
- “Gender Perspectives in Land and Water Resources Management in Central Asian Countries”, moderated by Dinara Ziganshina, SIC ICWC, Uzbekistan.
- “Gender Policy and Sustainable Development”, moderated by Maygul Nugmanova, Kazakhstan.
The aim of the discussion: the proposed on-line discussion gives an opportunity to discuss the issues of gender equality and impact of gender aspects on sustainable development in he region:
- How urgent is the problem of gender equality in land and water resources management in Central Asia?
- Does it have its specific character in the region?
- How equal are the capabilities of men and women in natural resources management?
- Is there a relationship between sustainable management and gender balance of managers?
We invite all stakeholders to express their attitude to the problem. We hope for active participation of specialists from various national and regional agencies (environmental, water and agricultural, hydropower, different sectors of economy), representatives from international and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, the mass media, and all observers and figures in nature conservation who are not indifferent.
Details at: www.caresd.net/gender/
IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, AND TAJIKISTAN SIGNING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON ELECTRIC POWER EXCHANGE
Minister of Energy Parviz Fatah of Iran noted that an agreement on trilateral cooperation in energy between Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan had been prepared.
The minister commented on the visit of President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan and stated that signing of agreements would facilitate widening of economic relations between Iran and Tajikistan.
He referred to the construction of dams as one of the main matters of the negotiations conducted between Iranian and Tajik officials, and said that a memorandum of understanding on electric power delivery from Tajikistan had already been prepared. Furthermore, he added that all details of agreements would be declared upon the confirmation.
In further, Iran and Tajikistan are planning to extend their bilateral cooperation in dam construction. Tajikistan is strongly interested in using know-how and experience of Iranian experts and engineers in this sector.
PROJECT FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE BASINS IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN
The project will help boost agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in the Hari Rud River Basin, which includes Herat, and the Murghab River Basin located in Badghis, Ghowr and Herat provinces.
The Project will strengthen integrated water resource management, improve irrigation, and promote more efficient agricultural practices to increase productivity in an area that contains some of Afghanistan's most extensive and intensively farmed irrigation areas.
It will provide for the rehabilitation and upgrading of 55,000 to 65,000 ha of traditional irrigation systems. The project will rehabilitate entire systems and enhance irrigation system intakes, improving late season water supplies.
About 400,000 mostly poor people will benefit from a water resources management project for Afghanistan's western basins backed by an ADB assistance package totaling US$75 million.
Source: www.adb.org
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