Role in the Aral Sea Crisis

Among the five former Soviet states, Tajikistan has had arguably the most severe poverty and the most political turmoil since the collapse of the Soviet Union. A civil war almost immediately post-Soviet period dominated the country’s political scene for much of their first decade of independence, and they rank very highly on the Corruption Perceptions Index (in 2012, they were ranked at 170 out of 174, 174 being the most corrupt).^[1]

Tajikistan has probably played the smallest role in shaping the future of the Aral Sea. They have relatively abundant water compared to their neighbors, and while much of it is not appropriate for drinking, they have been able to make hydroelectric power their primary source of energy (90% of their total energy). For comparison’s sake, they irrigate about 7,421 square kilometers, while Uzbekistan irrigates about 41,980 square kilometers. The other three riparians irrigate quantities in between these two.^[2]

Despite their immense resources (about half of the average flow of the Aral Sea Basin is formed in Tajikistan), distribution is uneven, and thus a key problem in the country. Lack of funds and infrastructure make current irrigation systems weak, and while the government has made efforts to remediate the issues, it doesn’t appear that they’ve made much progress.^[3]

It seems plausible that their own strength in terms of water supply may contribute to their lack of action on behalf of the Aral Sea.

^ Transparency International. 2013. â€œ2012 Corruption Perceptions Index.â€ Accessed July 30, 2013. http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/
^ Central Intelligence Agency. â€œThe World Factbook: Tajikistan.â€ Accessed July 25, 2013. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ti.html
^ Kholmatov, A.P. and Prof. Ya.E. Pulatov. â€œNational Report on Regional Water Partnership (Republic of Tajikistan).â€ Global Water Partnership. accessed July 25, 2013. http://www.gwp.org/Global/GWP-CACENA_Files/en/pdf/tajikistan.pdf