Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sign agreement on management and use of transboundary water bodiesKazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Khamrayev have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint management and rational use of transboundary water bodies, the press service of the Kazakh ministry reported.The document was signed during the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Uzbekistan at the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council.“The agreement establishes coordinated mechanisms for the management of transboundary rivers and canals to ensure water supply for the population and agricultural regions of both countries. It provides for the coordination of operational regimes for interstate water structures, regular joint inspections, and preventive measures to ensure reliable operation and prevent emergencies,” the statement said.The two countries also agreed to implement a joint automated system for accounting water supply and withdrawal at transboundary sections, with real-time data exchange. This system will enhance control over water resources and strengthen trust between the water management authorities of the two countries, according to the press service.The agreement includes provisions for modernizing and repairing water infrastructure, reducing water losses, introducing water-saving technologies, and improving the reclamation of irrigated lands. The parties will coordinate efforts to prevent and mitigate the consequences of floods, droughts, and other natural hazards.An intergovernmental commission will be established to implement the agreement, with meetings held twice a year, alternately in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.Preparations for the agreement began in 2017, the Kazakh minister noted.The new agreement builds on existing international obligations of both countries, including the February 18, 1992 Agreement of Central Asian countries on cooperation in the joint management, use, and protection of transboundary water resources, as well as provisions of the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and the Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX