A Study On Water Conflicts In Central Asia

In view of growing populations and related increased demand in water and its poor quality,distribution of shared water resources has become challenging between riparian states with different political,social and economic interests around the globe.This research is on conflicts over Transboundary Rivers of Amu Darya and Syr Darya in Central Asia shared by Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.Despite the region's highest levels of water availability on a global scale,inefficient water management practices inherited from the Soviet Union,the need for continued increase in food and industrial production for the rapidly growing population,as well as the deterioration of water infrastructure,have led to scarcity of water throughout the region and subsequent conflicts on water use among the Central Asian countries.The paper describes the major conflicts and their causes,the likelihood of wars or cooperation on transboundary river basins between the countries of Central Asia and the role of international organizations in management and prevention of these conflicts,and proposes possible solutions and recommendations for the countries in improved shared water use.