Kazakhstan joins Int’l Convention on regulation of transboundary river water use
Kazakhstan seeks to address transboundary river water sharing within the Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses adopted by the country’s Senate, Kazinform News Agency cites the ministry of water resources and irrigation.
The Convention is an international document ensuring fair distribution of transboundary rivers, lakes and associated groundwater as well as regulates their use. As of today, the number of signatory countries to the Convention is 37.
The international agreement provides for mechanisms for interstate cooperation to address disputes regarding watershed and water development in the interests of all sides.
As per the Convention, the watercourse country takes necessary measures not to affect other countries when using the international watercourse within their territory, as well as shares information on the watercourse, water quality and concerned forecasts on a regular basis. In addition, the watercourse countries consult oner another, hold talks on the influence of planned measures on the international watercourse.
The Convention lays out measures for building hydropower facilities, namely bans construction of such facilities without the consent of the sides involved. These principles ensure coordinated realization of water management activities in cooperation with neighboring countries. In addition, the (water resources and irrigation) ministry will deal with the issue of joint use of transboundary river waters with the help of the interstate water management commission, said first vice minister of water resources and irrigation of Kazakhstan Bolat Bekniyaz.
