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Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia

Central Asian Scientific Practical Conference on “ICWC Towards WWF4: Local Actions for Mitigating Potential Water Crises”

Central Asian International Scientific-Practical Conference “ICWC towards the 4th World Water Forum: Local Actions for Global Challenge” was held on 27-29 April 2005, Almaty, Kazakhstan. The conference was confined to the 42nd ordinary ICWC meeting. During the conference, the 6th Central Asian International Exhibition on Water Technologies and Water Sector organized by the Kazakh Center for Business Cooperation “Atakent” took place.

The conference was organized in the form of a plenary meeting and a number of roundtables:

1. Development of national plans of IWRM: experience of Kazakhstan and perspectives of realization in central Asia
UNDP Kazakhstan and Water Partnership of Kazakhstan

2. IWRM: lessons, improvement and perspectives
GWO CACENA

3. Upgrading of the mechanism for water resources management and regulation in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins
Asian Development Bank and ICWC

4. Development of information systems of the Aral Sea
CAREWIB, INFO-FP6 EU-CA

5. Water supply, disposal and protection
“Su Arnasy” association, Kazakhstan

6. Problems and prospects of development of the legislative base in the field of water quality in the states of Central Asia and Caucasus
Central Asian Regional Ecological Center




Organizers:

  • Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia
  • Committee for Water Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  • Water Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic
  • Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan
  • Ministry of Water Resources of Turkmenistan
  • Water Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan
  • Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Global Water Partnership (GWP)
  • GWP Regional Technical Consultative Committee of Central Asia and Cau-casus
  • Scientific-Information Center of ICWC (SIC ICWC)
  • UN Development Program (UNDP)
  • World Bank (WB)
  • International Fund for the Aral Sea Saving (IFAS)
  • CAREWIB project
  • INFO FP6 EU-CA project
  • Central Asian Regional Ecological Center
  • UN University of Peace
  • International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo”
  • Association “Su Arnasy”

Sponsors:

  • Committee for Water Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Scientific-Information Center of ICWC
  • GWP Regional Technical Consultative Committee of Central Asia and Caucasus
  • UN Development Program (UNDP)
  • World Bank (WB)
  • European Commission
  • Central Asian Regional Ecological Center
  • International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo”

Regular 42nd ICWC meeting

The 42nd regular meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia (ICWC) was held on 28-29 April 2005, Almaty under the chairmanship of A.D. Ryabtsev, Chairman of the Committee for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.

The agenda included the following matters on:

  1. Implementation of the limit on water intakes in non-vegetation period 2004/2005, confirmation of the limits on water intakes from the Amudarya and Syrdarya river channels for the next vegetation period 2005, and adjustment of the predicted operation mode of reservoir cascades;
  2. Allocation of the costs to finance the activities of SIC ICWC and BVO “Syrdarya”;
  3. Development of the production and gauging devices in the interests of ICWC;
  4. Preparation for the 4th World Water Forum;
  5. The CAREWIB Project;
  6. Agenda and venue of the 43rd regular ICWC meeting.

The ICWC members took the activities carried out by BVO “Amudarya” and BVO “Syrdarya” to implement the water intake limits and ensure the adopted operation mode of reservoir cascades for the non-vegetation period 2004/2005 into consideration. The participants of the meeting confirmed the limits on water intakes from the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers for the vegetation period 2005 and approved the predicted mode plot for reservoir cascades on the Amudarya river. The submitted mode plot for the Syrdarya river was approved as well. This plot will be considered at the meeting of the Working Group of water and energy experts from the basin states.

The ICWC members decided to encourage accelerating the conclusion of an interstate agreement on integrated water-power resources use at the Naryn-Syrdarya reservoir cascade in the current vegetation 2005.

The participants agreed to the submitted suggestions to allocate the costs to maintain SIC ICWC among founder states, taking the share of water intake of each state and share of attracted grants into account. The matter on financing the ICWC Training Center will be discussed at the next ICWC meeting. To implement this decision, the ICWC members will submit concepts of share holding in financing SIC ICWC in 2006 and next years to the Ministries of Finance in their countries. To provide financing SIC ICWC pending decision of the Governments, sources of finance will be discussed along the way. The Provision on ICWC will be submitted to the IFAS Board.

Information of BVO “Syrdarya” on the status of financing its activities was taken into consideration. Keeping in mind the insufficiency of funds allocated for operation and maintenance of interstate facilities, the ICWC members from the Syrdarya river basin states were commissioned to discuss at the governments of their countries the possibility of financing BVO “Syrdarya” in accordance with share holding determined in the 1992 Agreement. At the same time, the possibility of allocating funds for complete overhaul and reconstruction of facilities being on the balance of BVO “Syrdarya” for a certain time will be considered.

The participants noted that the scale of a real need for flow-measuring devices will increase, especially in view of introducing a charge on water services, thus creating an acute need for organizing production of these devices in the region. In this connection, keeping in mind the available production capacity and experience in producing measuring instruments in Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, it is expedient to develop these organizations as basic ones in the interests of the basin states.

CMC ICWC was charged to make, together with the national metrological organizations, a comparative analysis of measuring instruments, cost parameters of the existing measuring instruments, and working standards to develop a price policy and an interstate program for providing instruments for water measurement and accounting, while attracting necessary investments so that the bases be developed and water users purchase equipment, and submit it to the next ICWC meeting.

With a view to reforming the national metrological services and putting international standards into effect, a training of specialists in water accounting will be organized on the basis of CMC ICWC.

The plan of activities on the preparation for the 4th World Water Forum proposed by SIC ICWC was approved, and it was decided to send that to the EC IFAS for joint action. The membership of the regional working groups to prepare suggestions and reports on the forum subjects was confirmed. SIC ICWC was commissioned to collect opinions for processing and presenting at the virtual forum.

The ICWC members approved the work of the CAREWIB Project, and recognized further continuation of operations in the project directions expedient (taking remarks into account). The significance of the project in part of raising the confidence and transparency of activities of water organizations and water users in the basin, possibility of continually updating information on all the aspects of ICWC’s operation, as well as popularizing the activities of ICWC, was noted. The high level of participation of BVO Amudarya, BVO Syrdarya, national coordinator of Tajikistan and UzHydromet in establishing an information system was particularly underlined.

The participants in the meeting will take feasible measures for removing obstacles to involving Hydromets in the other Aral Sea basin states and the Regional Hydrological Center in the CAREWIB Project activities.

The Agreement on Water Information Exchange among the Aral Sea Basin States will be submitted for consideration and approval at the next regular meeting of the IFAS Board.

The 43rd regular ICWC meting is expected to be held in September 2005 in Tajikistan.

In addition, the ICWC members made a decision on the results of discussions at the round table “Improvement of the mechanism for water resources management and regulation in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins”.

In particular, an ADB initiative on maintenance and further development of water cooperation in the Aral Sea basin through joint action of national and regional organizations under the ADB regional protocol RETA 6163 “Improvement of shared water resources management in Central Asia” was approved.

ISC ICWC in association with BVO “Amudarya” and BVO “Syrdarya” was commissioned to prepare within a month a detailed work plan on two project components: (i) to organize regional discussions on water policy in the Aral Sea basin and (ii) organize trainings for representatives from regional and national water organizations in all Central Asian states.

The ICWC members are to prepare suggestions for establishing permanent working groups on regional water policy and improving water resources management within state on an inter-sectoral basis.

Within the framework of the project, an inventory of all operations carried out by the states to maintain joint management of the Amudarya and Syrdarya water resources will be taken.

A Round Table “Improvement of the Mechanism for Transboundary Water Resources Management in Central Asia”

A Round Table “Improvement of the Mechanism for Transboundary Water Resources Management in Central Asia” was held within the framework of the Central Asia International Scientific-Practical Conference “ICWC Towards the 4th World Water Forum: Local Actions for the Global Challenge” on 28 April 2005 in Almaty city.

The round table was organized by the ICWC and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The participants in the round table were: the ICWC members for Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, authorized representatives of the ICWC members for the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan, heads and senior staff of the ICWC executive bodies – BVO “Amudarya”, BVO “Syrdarya”, Secretariat, CMC, SIC, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, heads of departments of national water and energy agencies in Central Asian Republics – altogether more than 30 people.

A. Kenshimov, deputy chairman of the Committee for Water Resources (CWR) at the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) of Kazakhstan, opened the round table. In his speech, he noted that the improvement of transboundary water resources (TWR) management in Central Asia is one of the priorities of the regional water policy, and expressed his hope for constructive exchange of view on that problem.

ADB senior specialist in agriculture B. Tumurdavaa familiarized the participants with the goals, objectives and course of the RETA (Regional Technical Assistance) project, as well as with the ADB’s vision and position on the implementation of the project.

Prof. V. Dukhovny, Director of SIC ICWC of Central Asia, acquainted the participants of the round table with the main components of the RETA project (component À – support in establishing and functioning of Chui-Talas joint rivers commission; component B – assistance in organizing discussions on regional water policy; and component C – capacity building for regional water organizations), common problems of TWR management in Central Asia, the current water situation in the region, and the vision of SIC ICWC on further implementation of the RETA project. In his speech, Prof. V. Dukhovny also suggested to include the Amudarya river basin in the project area, and revise and adjust among the parties the early prepared three agreements on principal matters of cooperation. That was grounded by the need for an integrated approach to solving the problem of improving the TWR management in the Aral Sea basin in view of the specific characters of the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins, as well as strengthening the legal base for functioning of ICWC and its bodies.

K. Beyshekeyev, first deputy director general of the Water Department (WD) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry (MAWRPI) of the Kyrgyz Republic, made a speech, which reflected the main results and directions of further development of the RETA project by component À – support in establishing and functioning of Chui-Talas joint rivers commission.

In his speech, Head of BVO “Amudarya” Y. Khudayberganov set out the issues of the organization and main problems of TWR management in the Amudarya river basin. A special attention was given to the need for providing equitable water distribution among the main water users in the basin, including the Aral Sea, as well as to the issues of equipping the head water intakes with SCADA facilities.

A. Sorokin, manager of regional water management division at SIC ICWC, familiarized the participants with the results of the calculation of flow loss and the analysis of return flow impact on Amudarya water quality, and demonstrated the possibility of reduction in average river water availability in case when a period of low water flow begins.

M. Khamidov, head of BVO “Syrdarya”, acquainted the participants with the water situation arising in the Syrdarya river basin in different water flow years. The participants focused their attention on TWR management problems related to the operation of the Toktogul hydro power station in energy regime that results in considerable damage for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in winter-spring period, estimated as tens millions of US dollars annually (costs to carry out flood control measures, resettle population from the flooded area and so on). The speaker especially emphasized the low level of flow prediction and the need for quickly strengthening the cooperation of hydrometeorological services between each other and with ICWC. The report underlined that there is no alternative of joint management and close cooperation of all the Syrdarya basin states in the field of rational Syrdarya river water resources use.

Delivering his address, Y. Rysbekov, assistant director SIC ICWC, dwelled on the issues of strengthening international legal base for regional water relations, preparing inter-state agreements (ISA), stipulated by ASBP-2, in particular, on improving the 1998 Agreement, or preparing a new draft agreement on the Syrdarya river, draft agreements on establishing an International Water-Energy Consortium (IWEC). It was noted that in a number of cases, these projects do not meet the requirements of the authorities, which they are submitted to.

After presenting reports, the ICWC members gave brief information on key problems of TRW management in Central Asia. In their information, they focused on strengthening the regional cooperation and the need for reaching a consensus on transboundary water resources use.

In his speech, A. Kenshimov stated that any bilateral protocols on the Syrdarya river do not exclude the need for a transboundary agreement, which should determine in detail the order of interaction, responsibilities and rights of the parties in respect to following the regimes of releases from reservoirs, volumes and terms of environmental flows, order of Toktogul-Chardara transit skips. It is necessary to raise transparency in information and execution.

K. Beyshekeyev backed the need to revise the 1998 Syrdarya Agreement in view of specifying the issues of water quality, information provision, flood prevention and control, economic relations in participation of mid- and downstream states in flow formation and costs of the states of this zone.

On behalf of Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of Tajikistan A. Nazirov, Y. Pulatov make a suggestion to develop an international integrated program for water saving, take economic aspects of water resources use and protection, assess the situation in flow formation zones, especially in part of glacier melting, environmental processes, waterlogging owing to reservoirs.

First Deputy Minister of Water Resources of Turkmenistan T. Altiyevstated that it is necessary to inventory the cost of all operations carried out by the states, where provision of normal river conditions is accompanied by large-scale purification and bank protection measures (the suggestion was seconded by all of the participants). He drew attention to the necessity to strengthen the activities of both BVO “Amudarya” and BVO “Syrdarya”, their status, equipping the head water intakes and hydrometeorological stations, accounting return flows, and monitoring quality.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan S. Khamrayev attracted attention to the mechanism for controlling and observing the water limits, as well as fulfilling the decisions of ICWC.

During the discussion, B. Tumurdavaa cast doubt on the expediency of including also the Amudarya river basin in the project area at this stage, and suggested to concentrate the efforts on achieving real results in improving the 1998 Syrdarya Agreement. B. Tumurdavaa also noted that the main factor for efficient work would be the official consent of the Uzbek party to participate in implementing this project.

R. Abdukayumov, specialist in management of ADB projects, expressed opinion on the need for adjusting the specific plans of measures, acceptable to all Central Asian states.

The ICWC members seconded the suggestions on the implementation of the RETA project, emphasized its urgency and timeliness, and expressed their hope that the project would make a significant contribution to strengthening the cooperation among the states in the region. The ICWC members also thanked the ADB for readiness to provide assistance and financial support in settling the problems of effective TWR use in Central Asia. The ICWC members made a suggestion to generalize the results of a range of large projects for TWR use implemented with the support of international donors (Global Environmental Facility, World Bank, United States Agency for International Development, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, TACIS program, SPECA).

The ICWC members noted that in whole, the main problems of TWR management in Central Asia are caused by the contradiction between the interests of the upstream countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), concerned with the operation of large hydro power stations in energy regime and further development of the hydroelectric potential, and downstream countries (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), concerned with sustainable functioning of irrigation infrastructure and protection of their own territories from floods. Such problems are especially urgent in the Syrdarya river basin.

The ICWC members and other participants in the round table came to an understanding on the following matters:

1. In part of its tasks to develop and improve water policy, first at regional level, the RETA project should cover the issues of both Syrdarya and Amudarya river basins, while assessing present shortcomings and a set of necessary measures by joint efforts of the ICWC members and regional bodies. The actions earlier carried out according to the “Fundamental Provisions of Water Strategy” under the SPECA project, GEF should be taken as basic materials for this activity.

2. Establishing a joint working group to analyze the action practice of the 1998 Syrdarya Agreement, and identify the main causes for fulfilling the provisions of this agreement incompletely is priority. The working group should include representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, water, energy, environmental agencies in all Central Asian Republics, as well as representatives of regional water and energy authorities (ICWC and its executive bodies, “Energy” Center). It is expected to hold three meetings of this working group during the year 2005.

3. Providing trainings for representatives from water, energy, environmental agencies in Central Asian states in (à) using principles of integrated water resources management; (b) settling conflits and disputes in interstate water use; and (c) improving and harmonizing the water laws in the states of the region. During the year 2005 it is expected to provide three trainings. By the end of May 2005, SIC ICWC will send a plan for organizing, dates and venues of these trainings to the ICWC members for approval.

4. The CWR MA of Kazakhstan and WD MAWRPI of the Kyrgyz Republic should together develop detailed 2005 plans of operation by the end of May 2005 indicating exact implementation dates for the Technical Secretariat and four working subgroups for preparation for operation of the Chui-Talas joint rivers commission, and direct them to the ADB for approval.

Problems and prospects of development of the legislative base in the field of water quality in the states of Central Asia and Caucasus

On 28-29 April 2005 in Almaty city, the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center in association with the Global Water Partnership and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe held a workshop on “Problems and prospects of developing the normative base for water quality in Central Asia and Caucasus”.

The aim of the workshop is to identify needs and make suggestions to upgrade the current legal and normative base for water quality in Central Asia and Caucasus.

Representatives from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), UNDP expert T. Hannana made reports. The Kyrgyz National Report was drawn up by I.V. Gorshkova, L.K. Gossu, Y.P. Sakhvayeva, L.I. Titova, and presented by Y.P. Sakhvayeva and L.K. Gossu.

In conclusion, the participants of the workshop made recommendations, appointed membership of a working group to develop the cooperation in the field of upgrading the normative base with regard to water quality.