Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1009
2009-08-11 04:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: IGNORING WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
how-toVZCZCXRO9208 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1009/01 2230431 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 110431Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3272 INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5524 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3244 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3109 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3767 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1081 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3786 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001009
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IGNORING WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
ISSUES
REF: ASHGABAT 877
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001009
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IGNORING WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
ISSUES
REF: ASHGABAT 877
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: According to a Turkmen government water
specialist, for the past seven years, Ministry of Water Management
resources have been devoted to the Turkmen Lake project (reftel).
The Karakum Canal, the country's water lifeline, has suffered from
the resulting neglect. Water conservation methods are sorely
inadequate or nonexistent, especially in the agriculture sector.
Without some long-term planning to balance water resources and
needs, Turkmenistan will likely face a water management crisis. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On August 4, Pol/Econ staff member met with an official of
the National Design Institute for Hydraulic Engineering under the
Ministry of Water Management of Turkmenistan. (NOTE: The contact is
an alumnus of two USG-sponsored exchange programs, the Cochran
Fellowship and SABIT, on water management. END NOTE.) The contact
said that beginning in 2002 and until a month ago, the Ministry had
been directing all its resources and efforts to the completion of
the Turkmen Lake project. The contact expressed hope that now, as
the project has been inaugurated, the Ministry will be able to focus
on the maintenance of the Karakum Canal, the main water artery of
the country. According to him, the canal is in critical condition
and requires urgent measures for the reconstruction of the canal's
hydraulic systems and replacement of worn-out equipment.
3. (SBU) The contact described the Turkmen government's existing
water conservation techniques as following: a) development of
pre-planting tillage schemes to prevent water loss; b) farm
topography; and c) development of crop-specific irrigation regimes
and cropping patterns with high water productive potential. There
is a limited application of drip and sprinkler irrigation techniques
for government-sponsored landscaping projects in Ashgabat. The
existing system of agricultural management does not allow effective
on-farm water management technologies and practices.
4. (SBU) Turkmenistan is the only state in the region that has not
adopted the Integrated Water Management (IWM) system, which
encourages planning and management on a natural water systems basis
through a dynamic process that adapts to changing conditions. The
contact said that IWM balances competing uses of water through
efficient allocation that addresses cost effectiveness and
environmental benefits. The current leadership of the Ministry of
Water Management is not receptive to IWM, although former Minister
Tekebai Altyev was open to the concept and understood its importance
for regional cooperation. (NOTE: In February 2007, President
Berdimuhamedov released Altyev from his post because he had reached
retirement age. END NOTE.) The contact said that Turkmenistan's
non-adoption of the IWM hampers effective regional water
cooperation.
5. (SBU) When asked what areas in water management the Embassy
should focus on for its future training programs, the contact
recommended Integrated Water Management and Monitoring of Water-Salt
Balance. He suggested that the current leadership of the Ministry
of Water Management was familiar with practical implementation of
Integrated Water Management in the U.S., and that mid-level
specialists of the ministry had been introduced to U.S. water-salt
monitoring technologies.
6. (SBU) The contact said that for the official ceremony attended
by President Berdimuhamedov commissioning Turkmen Lake, Ministry of
Water Management officials diverted fresh water from the Karakum
Canal to supplement drainage waters to fill the lake.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The fact that water from the Karakum Canal was
used to fill Turkmen Lake supports the fear of local and
international environmentalists that in order to send enough water
to create the lake, Turkmenistan will withdraw water from the Amu
Darya River.
ASHGABAT 00001009 002 OF 002
8. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: To achieve long-term economic and
social stability, the Government of Turkmenistan needs to balance
its economic plans with its water resource potential. To do this,
government agencies should openly and realistically discuss existing
water problems among themselves and with the President. However,
this was not possible under the late President Niyazov, and is
unlikely to happen under President Berdimuhamedov. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IGNORING WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
ISSUES
REF: ASHGABAT 877
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: According to a Turkmen government water
specialist, for the past seven years, Ministry of Water Management
resources have been devoted to the Turkmen Lake project (reftel).
The Karakum Canal, the country's water lifeline, has suffered from
the resulting neglect. Water conservation methods are sorely
inadequate or nonexistent, especially in the agriculture sector.
Without some long-term planning to balance water resources and
needs, Turkmenistan will likely face a water management crisis. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On August 4, Pol/Econ staff member met with an official of
the National Design Institute for Hydraulic Engineering under the
Ministry of Water Management of Turkmenistan. (NOTE: The contact is
an alumnus of two USG-sponsored exchange programs, the Cochran
Fellowship and SABIT, on water management. END NOTE.) The contact
said that beginning in 2002 and until a month ago, the Ministry had
been directing all its resources and efforts to the completion of
the Turkmen Lake project. The contact expressed hope that now, as
the project has been inaugurated, the Ministry will be able to focus
on the maintenance of the Karakum Canal, the main water artery of
the country. According to him, the canal is in critical condition
and requires urgent measures for the reconstruction of the canal's
hydraulic systems and replacement of worn-out equipment.
3. (SBU) The contact described the Turkmen government's existing
water conservation techniques as following: a) development of
pre-planting tillage schemes to prevent water loss; b) farm
topography; and c) development of crop-specific irrigation regimes
and cropping patterns with high water productive potential. There
is a limited application of drip and sprinkler irrigation techniques
for government-sponsored landscaping projects in Ashgabat. The
existing system of agricultural management does not allow effective
on-farm water management technologies and practices.
4. (SBU) Turkmenistan is the only state in the region that has not
adopted the Integrated Water Management (IWM) system, which
encourages planning and management on a natural water systems basis
through a dynamic process that adapts to changing conditions. The
contact said that IWM balances competing uses of water through
efficient allocation that addresses cost effectiveness and
environmental benefits. The current leadership of the Ministry of
Water Management is not receptive to IWM, although former Minister
Tekebai Altyev was open to the concept and understood its importance
for regional cooperation. (NOTE: In February 2007, President
Berdimuhamedov released Altyev from his post because he had reached
retirement age. END NOTE.) The contact said that Turkmenistan's
non-adoption of the IWM hampers effective regional water
cooperation.
5. (SBU) When asked what areas in water management the Embassy
should focus on for its future training programs, the contact
recommended Integrated Water Management and Monitoring of Water-Salt
Balance. He suggested that the current leadership of the Ministry
of Water Management was familiar with practical implementation of
Integrated Water Management in the U.S., and that mid-level
specialists of the ministry had been introduced to U.S. water-salt
monitoring technologies.
6. (SBU) The contact said that for the official ceremony attended
by President Berdimuhamedov commissioning Turkmen Lake, Ministry of
Water Management officials diverted fresh water from the Karakum
Canal to supplement drainage waters to fill the lake.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The fact that water from the Karakum Canal was
used to fill Turkmen Lake supports the fear of local and
international environmentalists that in order to send enough water
to create the lake, Turkmenistan will withdraw water from the Amu
Darya River.
ASHGABAT 00001009 002 OF 002
8. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: To achieve long-term economic and
social stability, the Government of Turkmenistan needs to balance
its economic plans with its water resource potential. To do this,
government agencies should openly and realistically discuss existing
water problems among themselves and with the President. However,
this was not possible under the late President Niyazov, and is
unlikely to happen under President Berdimuhamedov. END COMMENT.
MILES