In five years, the severe water scarcity will be in the Central Asia

According to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the technical deterioration of water supply infrastructure in all Central Asian countries reaches 80 per cent, and water losses in distribution networks are estimated at 55-60 per cent, World of NAN reports with reference to Eurasia Rhythm.

Over the past quarter of a century, the area of irrigated land in the region has increased from 2.2 million hectares to 10.5 million hectares (including Afghanistan's irrigated land, the figure will rise to 14 million hectares), and the volume of water withdrawals for municipal and domestic needs has doubled.

At the same time, irrational use of water resources in agriculture persists in Central Asia. Water withdrawn from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins is used only 40 per cent of the time, and 60 per cent is simply wasted. At the same time, water prices in Central Asian countries are among the lowest in the world. And the issue of raising tariffs remains controversial due to the weak economy and low incomes of the region's population.

According to experts' estimates, in five years Central Asia may enter a state of acute chronic deficit of water resources of 5-12 cubic kilometres, and agriculture, industry and energy will be in full crisis.

The capitals of the Central Asian republics are well aware of this, but, as practice shows, much of the problem's solution rests on money. In Kazakhstan, for example, the shortage of funds can amount to at least $700m a year.

Therefore, Kazakhstan needs to intensify attraction of private investments and modernisation of the whole system of water intake and distribution. It is also necessary to eradicate corruption in the sector and intensify propaganda on rational use of water resources.

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