After the construction of hydroelectric power plants in the upper reaches of rivers, Kyrgyzstan will regulate the discharge of water to its transboundary neighbors according to its needs. How to avoid collisions and military conflicts in this regard? The well-known political scientist of Kyrgyzstan Bakyt Baketayev shared his opinion with the editorial board of Nur.kz:
– Bakyt Kushbekovich, taking into account the population and economic growth trend, by 2040 the water deficit in Kazakhstan may reach 12-15 billion cubic meters, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan said in his address in September last year. In your opinion, what initiatives voiced by the head of our state in the program document will help resolve the problems of water shortages?
– Last year, in his annual address, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev drew attention to the fact that in all Central Asian countries the deficit of irrigation and drinking water is increasing every year. Many factors play a role here, including general global warming. And the head of your state emphasized that water should be used rationally. This is naturally the use of drip irrigation and other technologies that allow saving irrigation water. Now we use old methods, and, for the most part, water is used irrationally.
– The rivers and canals of Eurasia are a common natural asset, designed to unite peoples and economies, K. Tokayev summed up. In your opinion, how dependent are our countries on the resources of transboundary water sources and do they manage to find understanding and mutually beneficial consensus?
– The situation in Central Asia is such that the issue of rational use of water has become a common problem that should have been solved many years ago, but, as they say, better late than never. Therefore, what the President of Kazakhstan noted about the rational use of all Central Asian rivers, here we need to approach competently and mutually beneficially. I think that this is the right direction. All structures that deal with water issues need to pay attention to what Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his message.
– What risks does the process of irrational use of water pose in matters of cooperation between countries?
– Until today, each country has solved its own problems. We, Kyrgyzstan, are planning to build about 50 hydroelectric power plants. Calculate for yourself, at least somewhere around 70-80 billion cubic meters we should collect on our dams. Naturally, during the collection, this is known from a simple arithmetic problem in high school, when one pool is filled, then the second one is filled and so on, of course, less water will flow, for example, from Kyrgyzstan to China, and to Uzbekistan, and to Tajikistan, and to Kazakhstan. And we will regulate this according to our needs.
We will discharge this water in winter, and our other transboundary neighbors need water in spring and summer, we must collect water during this period, can you imagine what a collision?! Therefore, what Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich said, his idea must be implemented in an international large commission. There is the European Commission, and this should be a water and energy commission of Central Asia with supranational powers in its area. And our Presidents and Governments will have to understand that all issues will be resolved by this commission, and not individually in each country. As soon as this principle is approved, naturally, mutually beneficial efficient use of water can be found there. Therefore, the time has come to create a water and energy commission of Central Asia, otherwise, if we do not create it quickly, then, I repeat, military conflicts will be just around the corner, I am not afraid of this word.
– The President of Kazakhstan proposed to create a water and energy consortium in Central Asia in September last year. I would like to hear your opinion on this initiative of K. Tokayev.
– I think that it is necessary, in the context of Kassym-Zhomart Kemelevich’s proposal to create a union, to create some kind of water and energy committee, an interstate commission with greater powers, which should be ratified in all countries above local legislation. As soon as this water and energy organization has supranational powers in its sphere, only then will we be able to distribute water peacefully and effectively.
– In what other areas, in your opinion, is it necessary to strengthen work in the water sector?
– One of the options for solving the problems is to build a nuclear power plant. Where is it faster and more necessary to build a nuclear power plant? Of course, here, so that we do not block the water. In addition, we need to use the cheapest thermal energy, especially in Kazakhstan, we need to think about dust collectors, all waste from the pipe, which the Chinese have long worked on, now emissions have decreased significantly, tens of times. Here is one of such proposals. After the formation of this commission, I think there will be many projects that will be able to save water, aimed at rational, effective, competent and civilized use of water and our rivers.
