According to preliminary data, the cost of damage caused to agriculture of Tajikistan by heavy rains and mudflows that have occurred through March, April and May exceeds the amount of 43m Somonis (ca US $10m). Farmer households have suffered the most losses. [Nato desaster report] [Full story] [Further reading]

Intelligentsia International conducted a Rotary-funded project to supply more than 4500 people with potable water. We have visited the Tajik village Dahana one year after the project was successfully finished to evaluate the long-term results of Rotary's commitment. [Read more]

The UNDP project providing financing and technical assistance for small irrigation rehabilitation and water supply projects in the Vaksh Valley of southwest Tajikistan as organized by Khurshed Kholov, area manager.
[UNDP Video]

Chinese giant company Sinohydro was to invest into another hydro-power station on the Zarafshan River with capacity of 150 megawatt. However, after neighboring Uzbekistan expressed concerns over ecology and possible future lack of water for irrigation, China quit the project. [Article]

Constructive negotiations can help to prevent water and energy crisis in CA region, recommends Vadim Sokolov, Deputy Director of Scientific and Information Centre for Water Management at the Interstate Committee for Water Management in Central Asia. [Opinion]

The current water crisis in Central Asia could have been avoided, had the region?s governments agreed upon water management procedures beforehand. The key stumbling block remains the conflicting interests of those states along the streams of the main trans-border rivers. [Article]

Professor Tashmukhammedov from Uzbek Academy of Sciences suggests technical solutions to ensure increased showers in dry regions of Uzbekistan. Is it a new great idea or just another way to avoid seeking water management compromises with Uzbekistan neighbors and partners? [Interview]

In on of his scientific papers, Professor Viktor A. Dukhovny, director at Scientific-Information Center of Interstate Coordination Water Commission Aral Sea basin, describes the influence of globalism/globalization trends on the water sector throughout the Central Asian countries. [Read] [Profile]

Tajikistan?s largest natural reservoir, Qarakul (Kara-Kul) Lake (Black lake), is located in the East Pamirs, about 3,900m above seal level. It covers about 380km?, with a maximum depth of 238m. It is 33km long and 23km wide. Lately the lake has become a major tourist attraction. [Read More]

"...CA Water related issues require an international effort, since the water deficit constitutes a conflict potential which may create problems on the interstate and interregional levels mainly due to poor coordination of action on its neutralisation..." Bolat Nurgaliev, SCO Secretary-General. [Full Speech]

A tripartite loan and financing agreement of 25 million euros for the Rehabilitation Project of 220 kV Switchyards of Nurek Hydroelectric Power Station was signed by the German Development Bank, Tajikistan's Ministry of Finance, and Barqi Tojik power holding in Dushanbe on July 25. [Read More]

The population of Amudarya river basin is continuously growing and the demand for fresh water, local food production, and more employment opportunities is gradually increasing. Kyoto University (Japan) is proposing a critical long-term resolution to achieve this aim. [Read]

?Gender and Water in Central Asia? Initiative was created in order to improve gender awareness among the water sector stakeholders at regional, national and local levels, and strengthen their capacity in incorporating gender issues into the decision-making process. [Intro] [Official Website]

Aral Sea degradation is one of the major anthropogenic disasters of our times. It has lost 75 percent of its original surface area since 1960's. Tajikistan's mountains are the main source of inflow into the Aral Sea and is therefore one of the members of International Fund for saving the Aral Sea. [IFAS] [Aral]

www.cawater-info.net - an information portal for water and environmental issues in Central Asia. The Portal was created within the framework of the Central Asia Regional Water Information Base project and is funded by the Swiss Agency for the Development and Cooperation. [Official Website]

Johannes F. Linn - a former World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia believes that given the global climate trends, an expert assessment of the Central Asian water resources degradation is needed immediately, otherwise an impending water crisis is inevitable. [Read More] [Profile]

In 2008, Tajikistan and four other countries in the Central Asia and Caucasus region ? Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan ? were accredited by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Headquarters in Stockholm as an official Country Water Partnership. [Read More]

In 1992, Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries signed an agreement about cooperation in joint management of interstate water use and protection. According to this agreement, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) was established. [Intro] [Official Website]

Improving the efficiency of legal framework of the water relations among the Central Asian countries is presently a key issue and requires new approaches to water use. Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia proposes the following: [Strategy] [Full Report]

Tajikistan's hydro-power dreams depend on the renewable snow-glacial rivers. However, the global climate change has posed an imminent stress on the glacial ecosystem. Some believe that by 2060 the hydropower potential will be minimized dramatically. [ICWC] [ICWC 2] [Degradation Map]

Sabina Dzalaeva, of the Dushanbe Rotary club visited the village of Dahana to inspect progress on the last of a series of 12 villages and more than 10,000 people provided water for drinking and irrigation with the help of Rotary clubs in Tajikistan and the USA. [Sabina Dzalaeva] [Photo Gallery] [Rotary Water]

How about water export given the aboundant water resources? Lakes like Sarez - a natural wonder of Tajikistan, containing about 17 cubic km of drinking water, could become a source for export as Tajik leaders are now searching for ways to unlock the lake?s economic potential. [YaleGlobal ]

Urban drinking water in Tajikistan is chlorinated in order to minimize the risk of waterborne diseases. However, it is still a challenge to maintain the minimum concentration of chlorine in the drinking water supply due to the current financial limitations. [Read more]

"...Water resources are a factor of security, cooperation, and development in the Central Asian region..." Mr. Hamidov Masaid - the Minister of Melioration and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Member of the Central Asia Intergovernmental Water Commisson. [Profile]

The partial drought in Central Asia infused a sense of urgency into a recent international conference on water management issues held in Dushanbe. Representatives from over 40 nations and 30 international organizations were building consensus for a stronger regional water management framework. [EurasiaNet]

The Water Code of the Republic of Tajikistan is aimed at regulating water relations in order to ensure rational use of water for the needs of the population, branches of economy and the natural environment, protection of water from pollution, damage and exhaustion, preventing... [The Code]

The three-year project, operating in the Ferghana Valley to benefit the territories of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, aims to reduce inter-ethnic and trans-border water conflicts and disputes through a combination of social and infrastructure initiatives. [Summary]

Back in 2006, one of the largest American energy companies, AES Corporation, actually planned to invest $1 billion for realization of power supply project that would have exported hydro-electric power from Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan & Afghanistan. [Tajikistan.NewEurasia.Net]

The Kulob branch of the Tajik bank - Tojiksodirotbonk (TSB) has allocated a loan to the local fishing farming unit named after S. Nazarov. The bank has provided 10,000 somonis (US$2,923.98) for the initial phase of the project and intends to provide continuous support. [Read more]

The year 2008 has brought a new challenge to Central Asia - drought, where stability strongly depends on the scarcest and most precious commodity - water. Photo: Under a scorching sun, a Tajik woman looks at a drying trickle of irrigation water running across her cotton?field. [Read more]

Staff from the Riverside Technology, Inc. (RTi) have assisted in the establishment and development of 26 Water User Associations (WUAs) covering 95,000 hectares of irrigated land throughout the Republic of Tajikistan.
[Read more] [WUAs]

Irrigation service fees (ISF) are often introduced in agricultural water usage, although not always with great success. Jenniver Sehring describes the reasons of their failure in the Republic of Tajikistan, where they were introduced in 1996 by Presidential decree. [Research results] [Profile]

As an innovative project, initiated by UNDP and the European Commission's ?ECHO' Program, it encourages Tajik migrant workers to earmark some of the money that they earn abroad for the installation of drinking water facilities for their families back home. [Waterfair.org]

Miscommunication almost caused a transboundary water clash. The canal at the center of the dispute was dammed as a temporary measure, as part of a 300,000 US dollar project financed by the World Bank to clear and refurbish the waterway in Kyrgyzstan. [Institute of War & Peace]

The unique hydrographic system of Tajikistan is a network of more than 25,000 rivers & streams with a total length of 69,000 km. Of these, 947 have lengths from 10 to 100 km; 16 rivers are from 100 to 500 km; and 4 rivers are longer than 500 km. [Discription ]

Much of Tajikistan's progress on water issues in recent years can be traced back to Dec 20, 2000 when 149 members of the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt the Tajikistan proposal declaring 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. [WiserEarth.org] [Official Website ]

Leonid Papirin - a professional hydro-geologocal researcher, has been to every single corner of Tajikistan during his 27 years of work and life in the country. His research on lake Sarez (where he had spent 10 summers and 2 winters) is considered the best of its kind. [Read more]

Low water levels in the Syr Darya river have led to the native fish not being able to reproduce. Similar trends had been spotted in some parts of the Kayrokum reservoir in northern Tajikistan. Due to the low levels of water the salinity and pollution concentrations have also increased. [Fergana News]

"...I have gradually come to realize the complex and crucial role of water for poverty reduction and development. It is obvious, especially when I see the challenges of providing access to drinking water in Tajikistan..." - Karl Nelson, Program Officer at UNDP Tajikistan. [UNDP report] [Karl]

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are the poorest countries in Central Asia. Neither country has oil or natural gas, as do their neighbors. But both countries have a more precious "card" in the economic hand - water, which was the topic of the recent meeting at a presidential level. [www.rferl.org]

Perhaps the most devastating natural disaster in Tajikistan are the landslides. Usually in early spring, after heavy rains or excessive snowmelt, landslides occasionally wipe out entire villages. Predominately composed of mud and water, landslides travel more distance and bring more damage. [Story]

Lilyana is a renowned dam and geo-technical specialist living in England. In 2000 she joined a team of equally adventurous scientists ? including a hydrologist, geologist and seismologist ? and set off to gather data at the Usoy Dam, located in the the southern part of Tajikistan. [Read more]

93% of Tajikistan's territory is snow-covered mountains; and avalanches are very common and harmful. Every winter they destroy roads, bridges, houses, and occasionally take away lives. A tragic incident happened on Dec 2007, when 16 people were killed in a highway avalanche. [Details ] [Bulletin]

Water pollution is one of the chief problems in Tajikistan. The major rivers of the country, such as Amy Darya, Sir Darya and Varzob, which are the main source of drinking water, are being polluted as the results of industries? wastes, throw of garbage, animal waste and many other human activities. [Read more]

Tajikistan is prone to frequent natural disasters because of its terrain and climate. Floods are particularly severe disaster risks because of the mountainous nature of the country. They pose a threat particularly to highways and agricultural fields due to their common proximity to rivers. [Infrasite.net]

Tajik government needs creative investment to build the Rogun dam - one of the most ambitious hydropower projects in Central Asia. While asking for foreign investment, the government recently asked the public to donate to the project to raise tha almost $10 million needed for completion. [Full story]

Although urban drinking water has improved over the last five years, in general the urban drinking water quality in Tajikistan, especially in Dushanbe is still considered unsafe. On occassion, tap water looks more like a coffee rather than potable water.
[Read more] [2003 Tragedy]

The institutional and legislative frameworks of Tajikistan are struggling to meet the management challenges of coordinating complex water policy, the multi-sectoral nature of water, and the relationships between water and the environment.
[UN Capacity Building Project]

The Khujand water supply project began in mid-2004 and will be completed by June 2008. Funded primarily by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the projects habilitates the critical infrastructure of the Khujand Water Company. [Summary by SDC]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Tajikistan is implementing an Irrigation Rehabilitation Project which aims to repair selected irrigation and drainage facilities in Tajikistan. Also, the project provides technical support to farmers to maximise the productivity of their land. [ADB Report]

Tajikistan has long held taxes on power & water to low levels recognizing the socio-economic situation in the country and of the people. However, recently taxes were almost doubled because the existing rates were unreasonably low and no longer sufficient to support the system. [details]

Ranking usually above 100th place in most aspects, Tajikistan is proud to have the highest dam in the world. At 300?m (984?ft), Nurek Dam is in fact the tallest dam in the world as of 2008. The dam was built on Vakhsh River during the Soviet era in order to build the Nurek hydro-power plant. [Read more]

The governments of Tajikistan and Afghanistan in cooperation with the Aga Khan Dev. Network & other donors, have built a number of bridges over the Pyanj River that had been dividing the neighbors for centuries, hampering social & economic exchange. [State Dept] [cacianalyst.org]

Part of the national energy agenda is to develop and install small hydropower systems in remote rural areas. Small stations are usually less costly and can provide a number of households with 24/7 electricity, thereby reducing the burden on major hydropower stations. [UN Report]

Tajik winters have become a nightmare since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Sub-zero cold does not allow hydro-power stations to work at full capacity. Suburban popilations are well adapted to such hardships, while the urban population counts the days to spring. [UN Tajikistan] [Eurasia Dayly]

The Ministry of Irrigation & Water Management of the Rep. of Tajikistan with UNDP-Tajikistan and the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea have developed a WATER SECTOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
[Details]

Despite an annual 13,000 m3 annual water flow per capita, the water supply & sanitation facilities in Tajikistan are neither safe nor adequate. Overall, Tajiks have the worst access to drinking water in the CIS, and outbreaks of waterborne illnesses pose a serious risk to public health. [UN Report] [Full version]

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has made a significant contribution to irrigation infrastructure in Tajikistan. Primary cooperation is the rehabilitation of water pumps and field training of water management and irrigation personnel [Details]

Implemented by World Bank, the Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project seeks to (a) improve irrigation efficiency and agricultural productivity in the Ferghana Valley & (b) improve safety and regulation of the Kayrakum Dam and Reservoir. [World Bank Tajikistan]

Energy politics is becoming a major element of Central Asian politics. With Tajikistan seeking to become a leading power exporter, energy politics can cause tensions between neighboring countries. Given the geopolitical & economic situation, consensus is usually hard to achieve. [NewEurasia]

Fedchenko is the world's largest glacier outside the polar regions, situated in the eastern part of Tajikstan. Like other Pamir Mountains glaciers, Fedchenko is shrinking due to climate change. It is estimated that in the long-term, a catastrophic reduction in river flows may occur. [Japan Aerospace]

Tajikistan has perhaps more abundant water resources than any other former Soviet republic. The potential for electric power is extrordinatry. Unfortunately, Tajikistan is excessively dependent on foreign investments to tap the economic possibilities of its ample water resources. [Terra Daily]

Lake Sarez formed in 1911 from an earthquake/landslide. It now strains to hold back 17 km3 of water at 3,263 meters elevation, constituting a flood threat to an estimated 5 million people. As one of the world's largest drinking water reservoirs, it's failure would be double tragedy. [Sarez.tj] [Ferghana.ru]

Central Asian nations share rivers and a need for the waters they carry. Upstream nations of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan need water to generate power in the winter while downstream nations of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan need irrigation water in the summer. [Eurasia.net] [Business Week]