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 component was held on 29 April, 2006, in Tashkent, at the conference hall of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

42 representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Justice, the State Committee for Nature Protection, the Joint Stock Company “Uzbekenergo”, the Agency “Uzkommunkhizmat”, the Scientific and Research, Design, and Educational Institutes, the Basin Irrigation System Authorities participated in the seminar. The Chairman of GWP CACENA, Regional coordinator from the UCC-Water and Regional Consultant to the program, representatives of the UNDP, JICA, and the projects, which are being implemented in the Republic of Uzbekistan with support from the international agencies, participated in the work of 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 main issues had been reflected and discussed:

• Further development of the on-going in the Republic reformation of the water management and use sector and the hydrographic principle of water management
• Transition to the chargeable water use in the irrigated agriculture of Uzbekistan
• Integration of the energy sector priorities with the IWRM system
• Legal basis for establishment and state support to WUAs
• Conservation of the aquatic ecosystems
• Provision of the IWRM system with the reliable hydro-meteorological and environmental information.

The report of the National Consultant to UCC-Water about current situation in water sector and progress with the IWRM implementation in Uzbekistan was presented to the participants. The preliminary content of the “road map”, compiled with consideration of the specific conditions of water management sector in Uzbekistan, was offered to the participants of seminar for review and subsequent discussion. After discussion it was adopted decision offering to the National Consultant to UCC-Water jointly with the members of the National Group for Coordination and Support to the IWRM to prepare draft national “road map” for subsequent approval by the key ministries and agencies.