Excerpt from Institute for War and Peace (IWPR) reporter John McLeod on border tensions developing in Central Asia over water for irrigation and hydroelectric energy production: Uzbekistan remains resolutely opposed to hydroelectric dams under construction in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which it believes will obstruct the normal flow of water down the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. The water is essential to its population and for its irrigated agriculture. Kazakstan and Turkmenistan are also dependent on this water, but have been less outspoken on the Tajik and Kyrgyz dam projects. Qurbon Yovshanov, a political analyst in Tashkent, notes that Nazarbaev mentioned water shortages in Kazakstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan during his meeting with Karimov last month. Yovshanov said Karimov was now trying to spur his Turkmen and Kazak neighbours on to more “radical measures” to block Tajik and Kyrgyz energy plans. http://iwpr.net/report-news/uzbeks-seek-turkmen-support-water-dispute
Tag Archives: river
Potential for wells to run dry but Water permit violations not priority for DNR – SFGate
WORTHINGTON, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of water permit holders in Minnesota are violating the law by using billions of gallons more water than they’re allowed, Department of Natural Resources records show. The violators include individuals, businesses and even state government agencies, Minnesota Public Radio reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/XhFUiX ). All have state permits that let them take specific amounts of water each year from underground wells, rivers, lakes and wetlands. But many aren’t obeying the terms of their permits, and they face few consequences for using too much water. “There’s no doubt that a lot of them are appropriating more water than they’re currently authorized,” said Dale Homuth, manager of the DNR’s conservation assistance and regulations section. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Water-permit-violations-not-priority-for-DNR-4312531.php?cmpid=twitter
Lake Levels 