DUSHANBE, April 24, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is threatened with shortage of water, Uktam Murtazoyev, the acting director of the Tajik branch of scientific-informational center of Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC), said in an interview with Asia-Plus Monday.
According to him, experts expect a volume of waters in rivers to decrease this year by 18 percent compared to annual average index reported over the years.
Murtazoyev claims the shortage of water is linked to the low rate of snowfall in northern Tajikistan, where runoff of melting mountain snow and glaciers feeds rivers.
“It may affect yields of agricultural crops, including cotton and rice, because the country will have to reduce irrigation of lands by approximately 30 percent,” the head of the Tajik branch of ICWC center said.
Besides, reservoirs powering the country’s hydroelectric power stations (HPS) will be filled in with water slower and water levels in rivers will fell 0.5-1 meter, according to him.
“It is not for the first time that Tajikistan faces this problem” said Murtazoyev, “The similar situation was reported in the country in 2000.”
Experts say the shortage of water may deteriorate the Aral Sea crisis even more.
