Water Resources Management in Central Asia: Lessons from History and Real Prospects

The article attempts to analyze the experience of creating a unified water management system in Central Asia. The authors consistently explore the stages of the development of the irrigation system in the region. At the present stage, the countries of the region are facing a systemic crisis. Today, Central Asia has almost exhausted its potential for irrigated agriculture, as the hydraulic infrastructure created during the Soviet era is in a worn-out state and does not meet modern needs. Problems are also brewing with the provision of drinking water. During the period of independence of the republics, the demand for this resource has almost doubled. First of all, this is due to population growth in all the republics of the region, which puts a strain on water distribution networks. In addition, the water supply and sanitation infrastructure is in poor condition, and almost 80% of the networks need replacing. The authors believe that the main problem of all countries in the region is the lack of desire to consolidate efforts to modernize the irrigation network. In addition, there is a need in the region to create regulatory institutions and mechanisms that would fairly distribute water and generated energy. The authors conclude that the most acceptable option for solving the problems of water scarcity and manageability of water resources in Central Asia is to refer to the experience of the Soviet period.