Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CENTRAL ASIAN
STATES : TRIGGERS OF
CONFLICT
Disclaimer
Material given in the presentation has
been taken form various Internet
Resources like ICG reports etc
Sequence of the Paper
Introduction
Availability of Water Resources in Central Asia
Water management system
Problems in Sharing Water
Tensions Related to Water Issues
Conclusions of the Study
Way Forward
Conclusion
Water and Central Asia
Water has always been man’s most
indispensable natural resource
Central Asia is recognized for its abundant water
resource, vast steppes, green pastures
Water and Central Asia
Water and Central Asia
Central Asian countries in the Aral Sea Basin
have some of the largest irrigation schemes in
the world
Aral Sea Basin
Amu Darya
2212 km long, canal system built in 18th century, further expanded by Soviets
Water Management System
During Soviet-era Water and Energy management was
done directly by Moscow through a complex barter
system
Shortly after independence, the five countries agreed to
maintain the Soviet-era quota system
Interstate Coordinating Water Commission (ICWC) that
was set up in 1992 but failed to take into account
changing political and economic relations
Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia
(SPECA) is also working on water management
International Fund to Save the Aral Sea (IFAS)
Water and Central Asia
Agriculture continues to be mainstay of Central
Asian states’ economy
Water use has increased rapidly since the
Central Asian states became independent in 1991 and
is now it is at an unsustainable level
Competition for water is increasing at an
alarming rate
Irrigation systems have decayed so severely that
half of all water never reaches crops, yet water
demand continues to soar
Conflicts Over Water Issues
Problems of increasing demand and
declining supplies have been compounded by
the failure of the region’s nations to work
together
Annual cycle of disputes has developed
between the three downstream countries –
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
– that are all heavy consumers of water for
growing cotton, and the upstream nations
– Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Water and Central Asia
Areas of Tension - Central Asia Nations
Lack of coherent water management;
Failure to abide by or adapt water quotas;
Non-implemented and untimely barter
agreements and payments;
Uncertainty over future infrastructure plans
Lack of trust, transparency and accountability
Areas of Tension - Central Asia Nations
Control and enforcement mechanisms no longer
function and the various countries now often accuse
each other of exceeding quotas
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan say that the three
downstream countries are all exceeding quotas
Serious tensions have centred around barter
agreements and payments
Upstream countries trade water to Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan for energy in the form of gas, coal etc
Attempts by Kyrgyzstan to demand payment for water
have been resisted by the downstream countries
Areas of Tension - Central Asia Nations
Tensions over water and energy have contributed to a
generally uneasy political climate in Central Asia
Not only do they tend to provoke hostile rhetoric, but
they have also prompted suggestions that the countries
are willing to defend their interests by force if
necessary
Uzbekistan has carried out exercises that look
suspiciously like practice runs at capturing the Toktogul
Reservoir (Kyrgyzstan)
Areas of Tension - Central Asia Nations
Downstream countries are more powerful militarily
and economically than upstream countries, an
imbalance that has been present in most water
conflicts
Findings of the Study
No major shortage of water in the region
Mismanagement and corruption are rampant
Most states want greater share of water without
giving due consideration to other states’
requirements and also without spending money for
maintenance of water management system
Wide gap between requirements of upper and
lower riparian
Conclusions of Study
Mistrust amongst all five states on water issue
Inequitable water allocation creating social tension
Reliable data on water resource is not available
Irrigation system needs to be revamped
There is considerable loss of water; these losses
need to be controlled
Management of water must be reformed to
increase accountability and transparency as
currently the public, NGOs and the media have little
access to information or the decision-making
process
Conclusions of Study
Efficient water management requires quotas that are
sustainable and are backed up by enforcement
mechanisms and sanctions against violators.
Water availability forecasting needs to be done.
There is a need to monitor climate change, possible
drought etc
A comprehensive approach is needed that addresses
energy, agriculture and demographic aspects of
water use
Water management is not an engineering or
technical issue only, it requires political solution
Way Forward
Strong institutions for management, monitoring and
distribution of water resources are necessary to
address the water issues. A multifaceted, all
encompassing approach should be launched to
improve water management, revamp water courses,
repair hydal structures and control water losses
Interstate Commission for Water Coordination
(ICWC) of Central Asia should be more potent to
manage the water resources and if necessary
impose fine or take other punitive measures on
defaulters. A system of accountability and
transparency must be enforced
Way Forward
Efforts should be made to build trust among the
states. It would require political measures besides
free access to all stakeholders. There should also be
more transparency in availability of data regarding
water resources
Upper riparian be given oil and gas as per the barter
system. Water quotas may be renegotiated to make
these more sustainable
More dams be constructed by lower riparian so as to
conserve water during winters when upper riparian
release it to meet their requirement of electricity
Rogun Dam in Tajikistan should be constructed,
however misgivings of the lower riparian be
addressed
Conclusion
Trust
Transparency
Accountability
Thank You