The 87th session of the Interstate Coordination Water Management Commission (ICWMC) of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held in the capital of Turkmenistan. The meeting brought together representatives of the water management agencies of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, according to the Turkmenistan Foreign Ministry, as reported by Eurasiatoday.ru.
According to the source, the event aimed to jointly discuss and implement initiatives for preserving the region’s water resources. Turkmenistan was represented by the chairman of the State Committee for Water Management.
Representatives of Central Asian countries within the framework of the ICWMC typically meet twice a year — in spring and autumn — to approve water intake limits from the basins of the two largest rivers in the region, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya.
The main topic of the session was the discussion of measures outlined in the Joint Communique adopted at the Summit of Heads of State Founders of IFAS.
Participants also reviewed progress in the implementation of these measures and exchanged views on ways to improve the environmental, water, and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin.
It is noteworthy that during the session, reports from the heads of the regional water associations "Syr Darya" and "Amu Darya" on the results of water usage during the past vegetation period were presented.
As a result of the discussions, the parties approved the water intake volumes for the Central Asian countries and agreed on forecast operating modes for the cascade of reservoirs in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins for the upcoming period.
According to the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, it was decided at the session to supply 11 billion cubic meters of water to the Shardara reservoir by April 1, 2025.
It should be noted that annually, according to the established limit, the total annual water intake from the Amu Darya basin amounts to about 56 billion cubic meters, of which about 40 billion cubic meters are used during the vegetation period — from April to October.
The water intake limit from the Syr Darya basin annually amounts to approximately 11.9 billion cubic meters, with Tajikistan receiving 1.9 billion cubic meters, Uzbekistan - 8.8 billion, Kazakhstan - 920 million, and Kyrgyzstan -270 million cubic meters during the summer vegetation period.
Additionally, the parties approved forecast schedules for reservoir operations in the basins of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. Water supply limits for Central Asian countries for the autumn-winter period of 2024-2025 were also agreed upon.
Furthermore, Turkmenistan, as an active participant in water diplomacy, demonstrated its leadership in supporting sustainable water management practices.
Delegates noted the significance of Turkmenistan's water diplomacy as a key mechanism for strengthening political and diplomatic ties in Central Asia.
However, it is important to point out that the countries are engaged in water distribution without the participation of Afghanistan, which is currently implementing a number of water projects (such as the Qosh Tepa Canal) that will directly impact river water levels, and this is a missed aspect.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 11, 2024