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10 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
FUTURE: Measures for sustainable water security in Central Asia
Degree of implementation of recommendations from the “Fundamental Provisions of Water Management Strategy in the Aral Sea Basin” (1998) and the 2001 Diagnostic Report The analysis of implementation of “Fundamental Provisions of Water Management Strategy in the Aral Sea Basin” of 1998 shows that by present no significant positive progress can be observed in the solution of problems identified in 1998. Over 20 years, multiple dialogues, conferences, and workshops were held with the involvement of donors, international institutions and agencies. However, many actions proposed in 1998 are still relevant. For instance, a set of measures for the reduction of unproductive water losses in order to achieve the agreed unit water consumption targets has not been implemented yet. As to water conservation in irrigated agriculture over the last 20 years, no regional projects were implemented in this area. Each state in the region implements its own national projects and programs on the improvement of irrigation efficiency. At the same time, a positive tendency can be noted - almost all five Central Asian states have been implementing significant reforms in agriculture. Issues related to the development and implementation of a mechanism for economic water relations have not been resolved so far. This hampers interstate cooperation to a certain extent. Under umbrella of IFAS, no mutually agreed regional projects and programs were implemented over the last 16 years. Moreover, to date, no systematic hydro-ecological monitoring has been maintained in Prearalie. We still have no regular information on state-of-affairs in this crisis zone. In this context, more concrete and effective actions are needed to achieve progress.
Measures for sustainable water security in CA To ensure water security, the following key positions should be taken into consideration.
Improvement of water management at all levels Sustainable water security is based on a coherent system of water management at all levels. For effective functioning of the upper (interstate and main-canal) level, it is necessary to address the shortcomings mentioned in Chapter “Performance Review of Water Management System in the Aral Sea Basin”, namely, inaccuracy of annual flow forecasts and absence of long-term forecasts; deviations from
OVERVIEW OF THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA © OECD 2020
