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Turkmenistan active in solution to water problems of Central Asia

Turkmenistan Materials 19 April 2015 18:15 (UTC +04:00)
Efficient water consumption in Central Asia is today one of the topical themes and Turkmenistan in this matter is very active.
Turkmenistan active in solution to water problems of Central Asia

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr.17

By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:

Efficient water consumption in Central Asia is today one of the topical themes and Turkmenistan in this matter is very active.

Speaking at the VII World Water Forum, which was recently held in the South Korean city of Daegu, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov put forward an initiative to develop water strategy of the United Nations.

UN at the time welcomed the country's decision to join the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention). "This agreement is very important for the country, 80-90 percent of which comprises desert," the message of the UN said.

As is known, none of meetings with neighbors in the region is complete without a discussion of environmental issues, including the issues in the field of efficient water consumption. The presidents of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov and Emomali Rahmon again stressed "the importance of deepening cooperation" in the water issue in the lobby of this last forum.

Turkmenistan borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan and uses the water resources obtained from four transboundary rivers, namely, Amu Darya, Tejen, Atrek and Murghab in accordance with the agreed quotas.

There is the problem with the Aral Sea ecology in Turkmenistan. This has been greatly affected the northern region. Dashoguz region has been subjected to the ecological catastrophe. The problems related to the provision with drinking water and the fight against salinization of arable land, i.e. land degradation and desertification, occurred here.

Ashgabat proposes to create the UN Aral Sea Programme and to establish a specialized organization in cooperation with the UN - Interregional Center on Climate Change. The Turkmen side expressed its readiness to deliver the necessary infrastructure for its work.

President Berdimuhammadov has said that "under the conditions of limited water resources", they should be used rationally for watering crop species, introduce drip irrigation and to get maximum volume of harvest with minimum water usage. Turkmenistan grows cotton, which ensures the dynamic development of the local textile industry.

Turkmen experts believe that the creation of a large water reservoir in Karakum will allow improvement of the reclamation of irrigated areas of Turkmenistan, increase the productiveness and prevent the soil salinity.

One of the most important tasks is to prevent the contamination of Amu Darya. The fulfillment of this task is related to the creation of Turkmen Lake. In the long term, the waters of all collectors will be directed to Turkmen Lake through the collector network system. This will minimize the contamination of Amu Darya and significantly improve the quality of water in the lower reaches of the river.

Edited by CN

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