124
costs. Obviously, the past objectives are refl ected in the current design of the system;
consequently, it may not be possible to implement new objectives regarding water management and governance at the sub-catchment and irrigation system levels without adjusting
and modifying the original design. (Wegerich et al. 2012 , pp. 562–563)
In their opinion any institutional and/or technical restructuring requires a thorough analysis of the complexities of the existing meshed system in order to identify
the spatial and organisational units where reforms could be implemented (Wegerich
et al. 2012 , p. 563). The authors conclude that only a far-reaching reconstruction
and adaptation of the water management system would be feasible for smooth future
operations. Beyond hydrological considerations, the question of the water source
occurs. The Fergana Valley taps most of its irrigation water from the Syrdarya via
Toktogul Reservoir and the Kara Darya via the Andijan Reservoir, both of which are
located in Kyrgyzstan. Since the Kyrgyz government has adopted its authority over
the management of their water resources, the dispute about the allocation of river
water is regularly revived when it comes to compensation measures and contribution to the actual costs for providing network maintenance and supply of water. A
water treaty was approved by the four Central Asian neighbours in Almaty in 1992
which allocated fi xed shares of the Syrdarya water: Kyrgyzstan 1 %, Tajikistan
9.2 %, Kazakhstan 38.1 % and Uzbekistan 51.7 % (Bichsel and Mukhabbatov 2011 ,
pp. 261–263). The water key will need to be renegotiated as Kyrgyzstan is in the
process of expanding its energy-producing sector and its irrigated agriculture. The
recent signing of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade
Project (CASA-1000)
6 project treaty and its fi nancing by the World Bank for the
transmission of hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan’s “surplus” production to
Afghanistan and Pakistan via Tajikistan affects the weak equilibrium between
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and changes the latter’s bargaining power. Consequently,
the political dimension of negotiating exchange of water for monetary funds or
energy will gain momentum in the future. Ecological constraints such as growing
water logging and salinisation, as well as disputes in times of scarce seasonal supply, have aggravated the situation between competitors along the Syrdarya (UNEP
et al. 2005 , p. 24; Bichsel and Mukhabbatov 2011 , p. 264). It appears that the quality of water and land in terms of salt content and contaminations is signifi cantly
deteriorating, although the quantity of available irrigation water is estimated and
projected not to dwindle.
9.5 Persistence and Change Within Uzbekistan’s
Water Management
Given these major challenges, it is surprising how many elements of a powerful
reluctance to change can be observed in the Fergana Valley. The institutional set-up
has maintained its overall control over all operations despite opening up to world
6 See for details and maps www.casa-1000.org .
H. Kreutzmann
costs. Obviously, the past objectives are refl ected in the current design of the system;
consequently, it may not be possible to implement new objectives regarding water management and governance at the sub-catchment and irrigation system levels without adjusting
and modifying the original design. (Wegerich et al. 2012 , pp. 562–563)
In their opinion any institutional and/or technical restructuring requires a thorough analysis of the complexities of the existing meshed system in order to identify
the spatial and organisational units where reforms could be implemented (Wegerich
et al. 2012 , p. 563). The authors conclude that only a far-reaching reconstruction
and adaptation of the water management system would be feasible for smooth future
operations. Beyond hydrological considerations, the question of the water source
occurs. The Fergana Valley taps most of its irrigation water from the Syrdarya via
Toktogul Reservoir and the Kara Darya via the Andijan Reservoir, both of which are
located in Kyrgyzstan. Since the Kyrgyz government has adopted its authority over
the management of their water resources, the dispute about the allocation of river
water is regularly revived when it comes to compensation measures and contribution to the actual costs for providing network maintenance and supply of water. A
water treaty was approved by the four Central Asian neighbours in Almaty in 1992
which allocated fi xed shares of the Syrdarya water: Kyrgyzstan 1 %, Tajikistan
9.2 %, Kazakhstan 38.1 % and Uzbekistan 51.7 % (Bichsel and Mukhabbatov 2011 ,
pp. 261–263). The water key will need to be renegotiated as Kyrgyzstan is in the
process of expanding its energy-producing sector and its irrigated agriculture. The
recent signing of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade
Project (CASA-1000)
6 project treaty and its fi nancing by the World Bank for the
transmission of hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan’s “surplus” production to
Afghanistan and Pakistan via Tajikistan affects the weak equilibrium between
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and changes the latter’s bargaining power. Consequently,
the political dimension of negotiating exchange of water for monetary funds or
energy will gain momentum in the future. Ecological constraints such as growing
water logging and salinisation, as well as disputes in times of scarce seasonal supply, have aggravated the situation between competitors along the Syrdarya (UNEP
et al. 2005 , p. 24; Bichsel and Mukhabbatov 2011 , p. 264). It appears that the quality of water and land in terms of salt content and contaminations is signifi cantly
deteriorating, although the quantity of available irrigation water is estimated and
projected not to dwindle.
9.5 Persistence and Change Within Uzbekistan’s
Water Management
Given these major challenges, it is surprising how many elements of a powerful
reluctance to change can be observed in the Fergana Valley. The institutional set-up
has maintained its overall control over all operations despite opening up to world
6 See for details and maps www.casa-1000.org .
H. Kreutzmann