REGULAR 80th MEETING OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR WATER COORDINATION
The 80th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asia was organized by Tajikistan in the online format and held on 11 May 2021.
The ICWC members, including Mr. S. Kozhaniyazov from Kazakhstan, Mr. Sh. Khamraev from Uzbekistan, and Mr. D. Mammedov (by proxy) from Turkmenistan participated in the meeting chaired by the ICWC member from Tajikistan Mr. J. Shoimzoda. The heads of ICWC executive bodies also took part in the meeting: M. Makhramov (BWO Amu Darya); O. Kholkhujaev (BWO Syr Darya); Prof. V. Dukhovniy (SIC ICWC); U. Nazarov (Secretariat); and S. Rakhimzoda (Chairman of IFAS Executive Committee).
The meeting’s agenda included the following:
1. Results of the use of water withdrawal limits and operation of the reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins during the non-growing season 2020-2021.
2. Approval of the country water withdrawal limits and operation regimes of the reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins for the growing season 2021.
3. Follow up on proposals and initiatives voiced at the Summit of the Heads of IFAS founder-states in the city of Turkmenbashi.
4. Agenda and venue of the next 81st meeting of ICWC.
ICWC members in their welcome speeches underlined the continued low-water period and consequent problems and also the importance of Kyrgyzstan’s re-joining to discussion of regional water problems.
On the first item, BWO Amu Darya and BWO Syr Darya reported on fulfillment of water withdrawal limits and operation of reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins during the non-growing season 2020-2021.
On the second item, the heads of BWOs made proposals for the limits of country water withdrawals and the operation regimes of reservoir cascades in Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins for the growing season 2021. ICWC members have agreed on the basis of more accurate forecast data on water availability to additionally consider and agree upon the operation modes of the reservoir cascade for the growing season 2021 in the Syr Darya basin by the end of May.
On the third item, Prof. Dukhovniy reported on work done by SIC ICWC as a follow-up to proposals and initiatives put forward in Turkmenbashi at the Summit of the Heads of IFAS founder-states.
The next meeting of ICWC is to be held in Uzbekistan. The date of the meeting will be decided in due course.
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