Turkmenistan promotes diplomacy and policy of prudent water use

In an interview to CentralAsia.news, Ishanmuhamed Handovletov, a scientist, Associate Professor of the Department of Electrification and Automation of the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences analyzed the rational use of water in Turkmenistan as the most important resource for the development of the agricultural sector, environmental protection on a global scale and improving the living standards of the population.

Constructive initiatives

The Turkmen government has identified water diplomacy and ecology as one of the priority areas of foreign policy.

At the sessions of the UN General Assembly, the Summits of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the heads of the Caspian states and the CIS, the Turkmen side put forward several relevant initiatives aimed at uniting international efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all UN member states.

One of them is a proposal to open a specialized body Regional Center to address issues related to climate change in Ashgabat. The Turkmen side is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure. Among the relevant initiatives is the initiative to develop a special UN Program to save the Aral Sea and the UN-Water Strategy.

Turkmenistan proceeds from the fact that the use of transboundary water resources in Central Asia should be carried out based on generally recognized norms of international law, mutual respect, and consideration of the interests of all states of the region.

In this context, the positive experience of cooperation in the water management sphere between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan should be noted. In May 2021, to ensure the rational use of water resources of transboundary rivers located in the border areas of water facilities of the two states, the Agreement on the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission on Water Management Issues was signed.

As a priori, Turkmenistan always seeks to achieve such agreements and comply with all international standards in the field of water use with the states of the region.

Unique pool in the heart of the desert

The country is introducing and applying the latest technologies for the use of large water utilities, reservoirs and lakes, which provide a full account of the consumed moisture resources. The pace of implementation of the program to improve the ecology of the Karakum desert is accelerating. The Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept for the development of the region of the Turkmen Lake «Altyn asyr» until 2025 is being consistently implemented.

In order to build this grandiose hydraulic structure, the main collector of the country and the Dashoguz branch were combined into a single system for collecting and diverting drainage water to the giant Garashor cavity located in the north of the Karakum desert. As a result, the ameliorative state of irrigated lands is systematically improving, and the discharge of drainage water into the Amu Darya river and flooding of pasture are prevented.

Along with this, a safety water supply is being created in the country. Within natural filtration and modern technologies, it can be used for the needs of the agricultural complex, including the development of new lands, the expansion of pastures, as well as for irrigation of green spaces and technical needs.

In this regard, the Turkmen Lake is a truly innovative project, stating the contribution of Turkmenistan to solving global problems related to the conservation of the planet’s water resources and the environment. At the same time, Turkmenistan strictly observes the provisions of the Helsinki Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe «On the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes», as well as other international agreements in this area.

Pragmatic solutions

The material and technical base of the water industry is gradually being strengthened, new hydro-technical facilities are being put into operation in all regions. Successful implementation of water projects contributes to increasing the production of grain, cotton and other agricultural products.

For example, the Yylgynagyz water-lifting complex has significantly improved the water supply to the agricultural fields of Lebap province in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya river. The reconstruction of the complex of structures of the machine canal «Zakhmet-Turkmenkala» made it possible to provide water for the sown areas of the districts located in the basin of the Murgab River in Mary province. The water management complex built in the Altyn Asyr district provides irrigation water for about 25 thousand hectares of land put into agricultural circulation in the Kaahka district, Ahal province.

A significant role is also played by small reservoirs designed to collect mudflows in the foothill areas. This makes it possible to avoid the harm caused by mudflows, prevent their occurrence, and use the collected water for the household needs of the population, irrigation of crop areas, and cultivation of vineyards and orchards.

In particular, such artificial reservoirs have been built in Bagir village near Ashgabat, as well as in Gozganchay in the Kaakhka district. At present, the same analog is being built in the Kunyaurgench district, Dashoguz province.

In Lebap province, construction work is underway on the second stage of the 15 Years of Independence reservoir, the capacity of which will be increased to 3.85 billion cubic meters. This largest body of water in the country has become a giant reservoir of moisture and will perform the function of a river flow regulator, which will ensure the uninterrupted passage of Amu Darya water along the Karakum River in the planned parameters.

Following the «Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the socio-economic development of the country for 2019-2025», design work on the construction of a new reservoir with a volume of 4 billion cubic meters in the eastern region on the site of the main watershed of the Karakum River has already been completed, an underwater channel of this facility is now being built.

In addition, the basins of the Hanhovuz reservoir on the Karakum River and Saryyazy reservoirs on the banks of the Murgab River are expanding. In general, this allows the creation of water reserves, effectively redistributing it over the seasons, saving it until the time when it becomes most in demand on the land.

In the Bereket district, Balkan province, the construction of a reservoir with a volume of 18 million cubic meters is being completed. It is designed to regulate the water supply of the Karakum River and improve the water supply of territorial agricultural areas.

Throughout its centuries-old history, the Turkmen people have consistently treated water as a priceless treasure that gives life. Traditions of caring for life-giving moisture were passed down from generation to generation. Each drop of water was equal to a grain of gold.

10 май 2022, 07:15
Photo source: CentralAsia.news

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