Use of water resources

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Andijan Region

Fergana Region, zone of the Southern Fergana Main Canal

Uzbekistan’s section of the Fergana Valley; the Kara Darya River Basin

Start date: 01.01.2001

End date: 31.12.2012

1. Prior to the implementation of the IWRM-Fergana Project, SFMC was managed based on the territorial principle by 3 water management organizations (WMOs): Andizhan Regional Water Administration, Operation Department of the Main Fergana Trunk Canal, and Fergana Regional Water Administration.
2. On the borders between regions and districts (especially between Andizhan and Fergana Regions (Polvontosh Hydro Section)) frequent water distribution related conflicts took place;
3. The quality of water management (uniformity, stability and efficiency of water supply) was poor.

The hydro-graphic principle of main trunk canal management

Actions:

Instead of 3 WMOs established based on the territorial-administrative principle, one organization (Administration of the Southern Fergana Main Canal, ASFMC) was created on the basis of the hydro-graphic principle.  ASFMC is fully responsible for maintenance and operation of the SFMC from the point of water intake to the very end of the canal (see figures).

 Results:

 Transition to the hydro-graphic principle of establishing WMOs allowed to do the following:

• sharply decrease the number of water conflicts on the borders between regions and districts;
• enhance the uniformity (fairness) of water resources distribution;
• enhance the stability of water supply;
• reduce organizational losses.

Lessons learnt:

1. Transition to the hydro-graphic principle of establishing WMOs constitutes an institutional tool of improving the quality of water management as it allows implementing a more objective and fair water management policy less dependent on local authorities;
2. Local authorities are not interested in transiting to the hydro-graphic principle and demonstrate resistance to the process.

Recommendations:

Transition to the hydro-graphic principle should be preceded by the following:

1. comprehensive analysis of water allocation issues along the target main canal;
2. training aimed at educating water-related personnel and decision-makers on integrated water resources management (IWRM).

• Traditional approaches that had been applied in water management earlier;
• International project (transfer of foreign experience).

Project title: Integrated Water Resources Management in the Fergana Valley (IWRM-Fergana).

Project duration: Jan 01, 2001-Dec 31, 2012 (12 years).

Project goal and objectives: overall project goal was “to contribute to safer living, environmental sustainability and wide social harmony, to support rural restructuring in Central Asian countries by enhancing water resources management based on the example of the Ferghana Valley”.

Project beneficiaries: water users and water consumers within the project site.

Project implementer: Head Water Administration Office of the MAWM of the RUz jointly with ICWC SIC/IWMI