Uzbekistan's Water Management Sees Successes and Challenges in 2023

During the forty-ninth plenary session of the Senate, the Minister of Water Management of the Republic of Uzbekistan reported on the reconstruction of irrigation and reclamation facilities in 2023. Notably, 297 km of canals, 41 km of channels, 11 hydraulic structures, 2 bridges, and 56 irrigation wells were successfully reconstructed.

The minister highlighted achievements in implementing the water resources management and irrigation sector development strategy for 2021-2023. Over the past three years, approximately 9,000 "Smart Water" and more than 6,000 "Diver" devices were installed in water management facilities. Automation was fully integrated into the management processes of 58 large water management facilities. Additionally, 1.5 devices for online water monitoring were installed at numerous pumping stations.

In 2023, coastal protection works were completed, and systematic repair and restoration of land reclamation facilities were executed, utilizing 94 percent of the allocated budget, totaling 316 billion soums. Furthermore, 11,000 km of collector-drainage networks were successfully repaired.

However, senators identified some shortcomings during the discussion. Insufficient progress was noted in transferring water management objects to the private sector through public-private partnerships. Additionally, the implementation of three large hydro nodes and irrigation systems in the Syrdarya region, two in the Tashkent region, and one each in Jizzakh and Surkhandarya regions based on digital technologies did not materialize within the outlined strategy.

Moreover, land reclamation expeditions within the ministry system lack adequate modern equipment, rapid mobile laboratories, and measuring tools for promptly assessing the condition of irrigated lands.