Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
To sum up, the objectives of administrative reform of the water management bodies are to
improve the coordination and prevent inconsistencies by eliminating double functions and
separating functions more clearly. These measures should thereby also reduce the number of
administrative staff members and decrease the share of budget funding for the water sector.
These efforts are resisted by agencies afraid to lose any competencies. As these agencies are
also involved in the decision making process, it proved difficult to come to a decision on
reform. Consequently, the DepVodKhoz “operated as it used to under the USSR preserving the
same internal structure and even, in some cases, using the same documents and procedures”
(Tursunaliev 2002, no pagination). No internal restructuring has taken place at oblast and raion
levels, either. 148 While the problem of administrative fragmentation, overlapping, and inconsis
tencies is widely acknowledged, efforts to tackle it fizzle out due to the dominance of partial
interests which are rooted in the precarious financial situation of the public bodies.
6.3.4
Introduction of Market Mechanisms (Irrigation Service Fees)
The introduction of market economic mechanisms is often seen as the main tool to reach
more efficiency in water usage. For Kyrgyz policymakers, however, as almost everywhere in
the world, the impulse for introducing irrigation service fees (ISF) came from a crisis in the
national budget rather than from environmental concerns about more efficient water use: “The
government realizes that they have no money for O&M, so they say we give it to the farmers
to pay.” 149 Water fees should help to cover the costs the state has for operation and mainten
ance of the hydro technical systems and facilities that remained in its responsibility. The term
“irrigation service fee” clarifies that the fee is not on the usage of water as such, but on the
service (by the state) to operate and maintain the infrastructure necessary for the transportation
of water and to deliver the water timely to the place needed.
Water fees were already formally introduced with the Law on Water of 1994. However,
the agricultural sector was initially excluded from these payments due to resistance from the
Parliament. In 1995, an amendment was made in order to allow the introduction of service fees
on water use in agriculture and forestry (Dzhajlobaev 2003: 69). Simultaneously, the state re
duced its apportionment of funds to 50% of the expenditures of the RaiVodKhozes . The other
50% should now be covered by the users with ISF. On farm systems (tertiary channels) ma
naged by FSKs, a/o, or, more recently, WUAs are to be covered completely by user fees.
After the general decision on the introduction of an irrigation service fee was made, the
next step was to decide on its amount. Again, the Parliament acted as a major veto player to
the government. Due to its enduring refusal, a cost recovering tariff could not be decided on
and the final water tariffs for agriculture were only established in 1999. 150 The ISF is calculated
on a volumetric base, which means according to the volume of water delivered. 151 Its height is
3 tyn 152 per cubic meter in the vegetation period and 1 tyn off season (§ 2). 153 This fee is rather
148 Author's interview with the director of the OblVodKhoz , Osh, 09/22/2003.
149 International consultant, Osh, 09/18/2004.
150 Zakon Kyrgyzskoy Respubliki Ob ustanovlenii tarifov za uslugi po podache polivnoy vody na 1999 god ot 24 marta 1999 goda (Law
of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the determination of tariffs for the service of irrigation water delivery in 1999” of March
24, 1999).
151 One point of criticism is that the fees are standardized in the whole country regardless of the specific climatic or
ecological conditions and regardless of the mode of irrigation (e.g., pumping, earth channel, length of channel, etc.
with all resulting in different costs).
152 100 tyn are 1 Kyrgyz som. 1 som is equivalent to about 0.02 Euro.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search