IWRM in Kazakhstan: Meeting of Basin Councils’ Representatives in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Within the framework of the Central Asian International Scientific-Practical Conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia (ICWC), the Committee for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CWR MA RK) organized together with the UNDP Project “National Plan for Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency in Kazakhstan” and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) a special session on “Integrated Water Resources Management in Kazakhstan: meeting of Basin Councils’ representatives in the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

The conference was attended by 90 participants: representatives from the Mazhilis (Council) at the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; from the Office of Prime Minister, Republic of Kazakhstan; from the Committee for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan; members of the Interagency Working Group on Development of a Program for Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency in the Republic of Kazakhstan; members of the Basin Councils established in seven basins of Kazakhstan; research and design institutes in the field of water resources and agriculture; concerned international, national and non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan; representatives from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan.

At the meeting, the following issues were discussed:

  • Main contents, prospects for adoption and implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan for the Republic of Kazakhstan by 2025 developed under the UNDP Project;
  • development of Basin-wide Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan/Program for each river basin in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
  • functioning of Basin Councils with executive bodies;
  • participation of Basin Councils in equitable and equal distribution of water resources from transboundary rivers;
  • problems of urban water supply and participation of Basin Councils in solving them;
  • implementation of provisions in the Water Code on determination of water protection zones and strips on water bodies in basin;
  • implementation of provisions in the Water Code on introduction of recycling water supply into enterprises;
  • contribution of NGO to establishment and functioning of Basin Councils;
  • other issues and problems in activities of Basin Councils.

28 participants of the meeting presented papers.

At the meeting, presentation of a book “Water Resources Management in Kazakhstan: History, Current Status, Analysis, Comparisons, Recommendations” written by independent experts of Kazakhstan A. Nikolayenko, I.A. Petrakov, and Zh. Alyakhasov was made.

A resolution of the meeting of Basin Councils in the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted.

RESOLUTION
of the Meeting of Basin Councils of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Having heard and discussed the papers according to the planned program of the meeting, the participants of the meeting, representatives of the Parliament’s Mazhilis, Ministries and Departments, local executive bodies, water sector enterprises, large water users, research and design organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNDP Office in Kazakhstan, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and others, as well as national and international experts:

noted that it is possible to achieve improvement of water resources management efficiency in the republic by raising the operating efficiency of Basin Councils. It will be achieved through better understanding between administrative bodies on water resources, including basin water administrations (BWA), and representatives of different water users. Water resources management will be more easy and effective, if specialists in water administrations would better understand needs of their clients, water consumers;

considering the presented results of the UNDP Project “National IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan for Kazakhstan”, component for establishment and support of Basin Councils in Kazakhstan, results of the review of this issue at the meeting of Basin Councils on 26 April 2007;

recognized that for raising the status and level of Basin Councils in the Republic of Kazakhstan, it is necessary to offer the Committee for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan to express an initiative to insert the following amendments into the Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

1. Article 51. The competence of the Kazakh Government in regard to water resources use and protection shall be supplemented with a new item as follows:
13) determines an order for conclusion of basin agreements;

2. Article 52. The competence of an authorized body in regards to water resources use and protection shall be supplemented with a new item as follows:
25) coordinates activities of Basin Councils, analyzes recommendations prepared by Basin Councils, takes measures to implement them, brings recommendations of Basin Councils to concerned state structures.

3. Article 53. The competence of local representative bodies in provinces (town of republican significance, capital) in regards to water resources use and protection shall be supplemented with a new item as follows:
6) participate in activities of Basin Councils, study recommendations of Basin Councils, assist to implement them.

4. Item 4, Article 54. The competence of local executive bodies in provinces (town of republican significance, capital) in regards to water resources use and protection shall be supplemented with the following words:
4) participate in activities of Basin Councils and in basin agreement, submit regional programs for rational use and protection of water bodies to Basin Councils, study recommendations of Basin Council, take measures to implement them.

5. Article 58. Objectives and functions of Basin Water Administration shall be supplemented with new items as follows:
23) organizes activities of Basin Council, conducts consultations with members of Basin Council on especially important issues of water resources use and protection in basin, analyzes recommendations prepared by Basin Council, takes measures to implement them, brings recommendations of Basin Council to concerned state structures;
25) keeps record of industrial and heat-and-power organizations without recycling water supply, concludes basin agreements with them.

6. Article 59. Participation of territorial units from Central Executive Body of Kazakhstan in regard to environmental protection in the implementation of basin approach to water resources management shall be supplemented with a new item as follows:
6) in activities of Basin Councils, analyzes recommendations of Basin Councils, assists to implement them.

7. Article 60. Basin agreements on restoration and protection of water bodies shall be supplemented with a new item as follows:
3a) an order for conclusion of basin agreements shall be determined by the Kazakh Government.

8. Article 61. Basin Council:
- In item 1, words “under basin agreement” shall be eliminated, words “within respective basin” shall be written in place of them;
- In the first sentence of item 2, words “and their associations” shall be added after words “representatives of water users”;
- In item 3, words “state structures, water users” shall be added after words “recommendations for”, words “exercises control over fulfillment of basin agreements” shall be added after word “agreement”.

9. Item 2, article 90. Activities of public associations in regard to water resources use and protection shall be supplemented with the following words:
2) Representatives of public associations may participate in activities of Basin Councils, initiate conclusion of basin agreements.

10. In the second sentence of item 2, article 129. Use of water bodies and waterworks facilities for industry and heat-power engineering, words “conclude basin agreements between basin water administration and local executive bodies” shall be added further in text after words “are obliged to”

In conclusion, the participants of the meeting express their thanks to:

CWR MA, UNDP Kazakhstan, GWP, Norwegian Government, OSCE for assistance in the implementation of the UNDP Project and organization of the Meeting of Basin Councils.