OSCE Centre in Astana contributes to modern water management in Balkhash area

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 25 June 2014 – Efficient water management as a way of promoting environmentally-friendly sustainable growth and improving the local ecology is the focus of an OSCE-supported event that started today in Almaty for members of the Balkhash-Alakol Water Basin Council.

The two-day discussion followed by a capacity-building seminar was co-organized by the OSCE Centre for some 40 representatives of regional and local authorities, the business community and civil society as part of a regular meeting of the Balkhash-Alakol Water Basin Council.

In view of the recently adopted State Water Resource Management Programme for 2014-2040 and some changes to the national legislation, Council members and other participants will discuss with national experts ways of introducing modern water-saving technologies in the Balkhash-Alakol area. 

“The national green economy strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan promotes efficient water management, based on an integrated, participatory and comprehensive approach that allows social and environmental considerations for sustainable economic development,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Therefore it is important to continue promoting the role and build the capacity of Water Basin Councils in decision-making processes.”  

Serikaliy Mukatayev, Chair of the Balkhash-Alakol Water Basin Council, said: “We all must be guided by the need to treat the water and its quality with care. We should introduce the system of water resources management based on water basin principle which would involve all stakeholders and those who directly or indirectly impact the state of water resources."

The event is part of the OSCE Centre’s activities to promote sustainable water management, tailored to the needs of the national and regional water authorities in Kazakhstan.