Evolution of Water Resources Management in Central Asia

Abstract

Since time immemorial, the water and all water-related components of life had been one of the key factors determining the development of civilizations. Water basins have no political boundaries. Water is the vital common wealth of all people on the Earth. Any attempts to divide it by force had led the society to wars and disasters. In Central Asia, water is the main uniting and dissociating factor. The causes of conflicts and rivalry for water among water users were water deficit, deterioration of water quality, and unbalanced system of water management for power generation.

In five Central Asian states located in the basins of the major rivers – Syr Darya and Amu Darya, the water dependence among them is so strong that it simply dooms these countries to joint management of all waters formed here and used by all peoples inhabiting this area to ensure regional security. Apart from difficulties faced with water distribution regulation across the territory, there are also complexities with regulation of water supply in time as various water users have their own specific time-related demand for water. This also requires the well-balanced actions. For the last five decades, the countries have been looking for the best form of water resource management.