WORKSHOPS

National workshop “Issues of Intersectoral Interaction in Water Use and Transition to Integrated Water Resources Management”

The first national seminar within the framework of the component was held on 21 April, 2006, in Bishkek. 30 representatives from the departments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Food Processing Industry, Kyrgyz Integrated Hydro-Geological Expedition, the Ministry of Health, the State Agency for Environment Conservation and Forestry, Opened Joint Stock Company “Electric Stations”, the Main Administration on Hydro-Meteorology of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Kyrgyz Department of SIC ICWC, the Center for Support and Regulation of WUA3, the State Water Inspection, Basin Water Management Authorities, the projects which are being implemented in the republic with support from the international agencies participated in this seminar. The Regional Consultant, Coordinator of the sub-regional program participated in the seminar as well.

In the reports and presentations of the members of the National Groups for Coordination and Support to IWRM at this seminar the following issues were reflected:

• IWRM objectives and tasks and the planned approaches to their implementation
• Tasks of the National Group for coordination and support to the IWRM
• Problems and conflicts in water resources management and their possible solutions
• Problems in reformation of water resources management and use
• Problems in the state support to WUAs
• Problems in conservation of the aquatic ecosystems
• Role and place of the hydro-meteorological service in the IWRM system.

The main provisions of draft “Water Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic” were presented to participants of the seminar. This paper is now under approval of the ministries and agencies concerned. The participants were informed about the decree on establishment of the National Water Council, adopted in February 2006. This council is headed by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic.

In the adopted on the results of seminar decision, it was offered to assign the UCC-Water national consultant together with the National Coordination Group to prepare the draft national “road map” of activities aimed at transition to the IWRM for its subsequent presentation at the regional seminar (July, 2006). The final, agreed with the stakeholders, version of this “road map” will be presented at the closing national seminar (August 2006).