The Challenge of Water Management in Central Asia: A Case Study of Aral Sea

Abstract

Aral Sea, which was called as world's fourth freshwater lake has transformed into a manmade disaster since 1960. This happened due to the waters of Amu and Syr rivers, which were a source of supply of water to the Aral Sea, stopped reaching the Sea. Consequently, Aral Sea began to diminish and by 1991 it had lost more than fifty percent of its area. The marginalization of Aral Sea not only led to widespread environmental disaster but also curtailed the flow of fresh water for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two Central Asian states sharing the waters of Aral Sea. Fishing, flora and fauna also began to diminish with the loss of water from the Aral Sea. This paper will discuss how the Central Asian states, regardless of numerous contentious issues, succeeded in precluding water conflicts in Central Asia which could have destabilized regional peace and security. When the Soviet Central Asian Republics got independence in 1991, there was a strong opinion in some circles that the region would plunge into inter and intra-state territorial, ethnic, lingual and water conflicts.