ADB project

RETA 6163: Improved Management of Shared Water Resources in Central Asia
Volume I: Improving Trans-boundary Water Management on a Pilot Basis (Chu and Talas River Basins)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Joint use of water resources in transboundary basins is one of the key directions for regional cooperation among the Central Asian Republics (CAR). This is caused by dependence of most of the sectors of economy and environment from availability of safe fresh water resources in natural sources and their rational use. During the recent decades the region faces the trends of degradation of water ecosystems, increased shortage of water resources and their pollution. The risks of further aggravation of these challenges due to increasing water consumption require adequate reaction from national water management and nature protection agencies of the CARs, including improved coordination among them. The experience of international water partnership indicates that joint basis institutions such as multilateral commissions could serve as an effective mechanism for such interaction.

An Agreement between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of Kazakhstan on the use of interstate water facilities on Chu and Talas Rivers signed in 2000 provided a legal framework for establishment of bilateral commission aimed at regulating joint water management activities on the territory of the abovementioned basins.

The process of establishment of this Commission was successfully accomplished in 2006, largely due to support from international organizations. In particular, during 2003-2006 notable organizational, financial and methodological support was provided by UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE), UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UN ESCAP), European Union (EU) and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Asian Development Bank (ADB) during 2005-2007 under its RETA 6163: Improved Management of Shared Water Resources in Central Asia has made considerable contribution by providing support to establishment of the Commission and organizing the work of its permanent Secretariat and experts’ groups during the initial stage of their formation.

This report highlights main outcomes of activities accomplished under ADB RETA 6163: Improved Management of Shared Water Resources in Central Asia as part of Activity 1: Improving Trans-boundary Water Management on a Pilot Basis (Chu and Talas River Basins). These activities were aimed at implementation of the following tasks:

1. (a)assess climatic, hydrological and socio-economic aspects, technical condition of water management infrastructure and other specific factors that have impact on water use and bilateral water management in the Chu and Talas river basins;

2. assess current water legislation and legal and regulatory framework of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, and perspectives of their development in the context of international water law;

3. assess existing institutional systems for water resources management and perspectives of their development under the model of integrated water resources management with participation of representatives of water users associations and communities;

4. summarize experience in establishing a bilateral commission and develop policies and concrete procedures for short-term and long-term operation of the commission;

5. summarize past experience of joint financing of operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for interstate water facilities;

6. develop sustainable mechanism for financing operation of the commission and perspective investment plans for O&M of interstate facilities by applying a scheme of joint and external financing of these costs;

7. assess existing and necessary information for efficient operation of the commission and develop recommendations on improving information exchange among national and basin water management authorities;

8. develop recommendations on further improving legal and regulatory framework regulating bilateral water relationship in transboundary basins;

9. disseminate required information though a series of training workshops and through a web-site.

Final materials related to implementation of these tasks are provided in details in reports of the Secretariat and four expert groups.

Informational base, recommendations and concrete technical solutions developed in accordance with the terms of reference of RETA 6163 will serve as a reliable basis for future operation of the Commission and its Secretariat.

In addition to that, ADB also assisted in institutional and technical capacity building. This includes detailed design, installation and commissioning of a management Information System at control structure of Kirov Reservoir, provision of office and computer equipment to selected interstate water management facilities. The use of this equipment, access to internet and modern water use technologies has improved capacity of national basin organizations in the water resources management and effective coordination. This also contributed to improving reliability and efficiency of data exchange among the water management authorities of the two countries.

This successful experience of joint efforts of executing agencies of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, international organizations and donors on creation of the Commission could be viewed as an example of effective cooperation and could be of interest to the neighboring countries in the region for replication on other transboundary river basins.

1. Background Information and Perspective Development
of Water Use in the Chu and Talas Basins

1. General Description of the Basins

1. Chu and Talas river basins are located within the northern part of mountaneous Tian-Shan and eastern part of Turan depression (Figure 1) on the border territory of the Kyrgyz Republic (the Kyrgyz Republic) and Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan). The climate on the territory of the basins is continental and is changing as the altitude goes down from 2400 to 600 m on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and from 600 to 500 m on the territory of Kazakhstan. Both basins are characterized by diversity of climatic conditions typical for highly mountaneous and mountaneous steppe zones (the Kyrgyz Republic), mountaneous steppe, desert-steppe and desert zones (Kazakhstan).

2. The population of Jambyl province of Kazakhstan covering the territory of both basins is above 620,000 people. In the Kyrgyz Republic, on the territory of three provinces within the Chu basin the population is above 800,000 people, in Talas province it is more than 200,000 people. Population density in the Chu basin is significantly higher than in the Talas basin. The share of urban population in the Chu basin and in Kazakh part of the Talas basin is above 50% of total population, and in Talas province of the Kyrgyz Republic it is about 25% of total population. Surplus of labor resources is widely noted due to underemployment of able-bodied citizens, especially in the rural areas. Since 2001, stabilization of population in Jambyl and Talas provinces is noted while in Chu province inflow of migrants is evident.

3. Total area of the Chu river basin is 62,500 kmІ, comprising 26,600 kmІ (42.5%) in the Kyrgyz Republic and 35,900 kmІ (57.5%) in Kazakhstan. The length of Chu River is 1,186 km, including 336 km on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. Total area of the Talas river basin is 52,700 kmІ, comprising 11,430 kmІ (21.7%) in the Kyrgyz Republic and 41,270 kmІ in Kazakhstan. The length of Talas River is 444 km, including 217 km on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.

4. Irrigated area of the Chu basin within the Kyrgyz Republic is 329,000 ha in Chu province and about 33,000 ha in Naryn and Issyk-Kul provinces. Irrigated area of the Talas basin within the Kyrgyz Republic is 115,000 ha. Total irrigated area of both the basins on the territory of Kazakhstanis about 231,400 ha in Jambyl province and 1,300 ha in South-Kazakhstan province.

5. Agriculture occupies dominant place in the structure of economy. The share of crop production from irrigated lands, pastures, flood plains and hayfields during the last several years stays at above 2/3 of total volume of agricultural production. However, after 1991 development of new irrigated or rain-fed arable lands stopped, moreover, annually part of previously cultivated land was taken out of production, especially in Kazakh part of the basins.

6. Industry on the territory of both the basins is predominantly presented by mining, agricultural processing and construction enterprises. In Jambyl province important role is payed by chemical and mineral fertilizer manufacturers. Chu province is the most industrially developed region of the Kyrgyz Republic with relatively high concentration of food, construction and other industries. Following a long period of depression, in recent years, gradual increase of industrial production and intensive development of the service sector is being observed.

7. Total hydro-energy potential in the Chu basin is estimated at 360,000 kWt, and in the Talas basin 354,300 kWt. But this potential has not been used efficiently, mostly through a cascade of small hydropower stations in the Chu Valley in the Kyrgyz Republic. On the plain terrains of Kazakhstan there are no conditions for construction of hydropower facilities, therefore power supply mostly comes from Jambyl HPS. Power supply of Chu and Talas provinces of the Kyrgyz Republic is arranged from the Cascade of Lower Naryn HPS and Bishkek Termal Power Station.

8. Natural environment on the territory of both the basins is characterized by peculiarities of natural and climatic conditions, man-made impacts and during the last decade tends to be relatively stable. However, there are notable signs of deforestation, decreasing number of grasses and bushes in the flood plains, and as a consequence, decrease of natural biodiversity due to deteriorated conditions of flora and fauna.

9. The main problems related to hazardous impact of water in the Kyrgyz part of the basins are intensive soil erosion caused by significant surface slopes, mudflows and landslides in the foothill valleys, deformation of river beds during flooding and flooding of vital infrastructure in the areas of high groundwater tables.

10. In Kazakh part of the basins decreases of environmental discharges in the downstream of Chu and Talas rivers are observed, which causes degradation of lake systems in the deltas, flood plains, meadows and hayfields. More than half of land resources available for production are considered to be in poor ameliorative condition and prone to desertification.

11. Currently, quality of surface and sub-surface water resources in the basins is assessed as satisfactory. However, there are facts of short-term increases of some pollutants in natural aquifers compared to permissible norms. In the surface flows previously unavailable ingredients have been noted: carbolic acid, zinc, copper, fluorides, oil products, etc. although in small quantities. The main water pollution sources are communal and livestock discharges, mining and processing industries, and transport. Serious danger is presented by waste storages of mining industries, especially those containing radioactive and toxic substances.

12. During the recent years there was no evidence of increased morbidity of population due to deteriorating water quality. Nevertheless, sanitary conditions of protection zones of potable water supply sources has deteriorated widely.