ALMATY, Kazakhstan (Asia Water Wire) - More than a decade after the break-up of the former Soviet Union, the basin-states of the Syr Darya face an uphill battle to untangle the water-sharing discord between upstream and downstream countries.

BEIJING, China (IPS) - As China grappled with the political and social fallout of trying to cover up a toxic spill in the country's impoverished north-east, rural communities emerged as the most forsaken in government responses to environmental hazards caused by rapid industrialisation.

   An explosion at a state-owned chemical factory in Jilin city, earlier this month, caused large quantities of poisonous benzene to flow into the Songhua river that runs through Harbin city, forcing authorities to shut off running water to the 3.8 million residents for five days.

Map of the Syr Darya basin (courtesy of the Central Asian Interstate Water Commission's Scientific and Information Center). Can also be viewed at http://www.icwc-aral.uz/bwos/map.gif

Members of the Central Asian Interstate Water Commission at the Almaty Water Forum.

Members of the Central Asian Interstate Water Commission in the Almaty Water Forum.

Map of the Syr-Darya river basin (courtesy of the Scientific and Information Center of the Central Asian Interstate Water Commission)

BISHKEK, Kyrgyz Republic (Asia Water Wire) - The name Tentek-say—which translates as ‘playful’ or ‘mad’ river—says it all: It is unpredictable and a management nightmare. 

   Complicating its management is a political boundary which criss-crosses two countries. 

   The boundary separating Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan runs through the village of Chek—two-thirds of the settlement lies in the Nooken district of Kyrgyzstan and the remaining one-third is in Pahta-Abad district of Uzbekistan. 

Considering that the human body is 70 percent water, it makes perfect sense that we all need water to survive. While humans can go on living without food for weeks we will die within days if we do not drink.

But when it comes to clean and safe drinking water, not everybody can have it.

While safe drinking water should be everybody's basic human right, the reality is that people the world over still have to struggle to find water to drink. To find out who has enough safe drinking water and who is still thirsty, go to the website of World Water at http://www.worldwater.org/drinkwat.gif

Cows seek shelter under the shadow of destroyed buildings

A river in Balakot, one of the worst affected areas now is back to blue, but four weeks ago it was still carrying debris, dead human bodies and animal carcasses.

One of the makeshift incinerators, just a few meters from the survivors' tents.

Historically, swamps have been portrayed as frightening no-man’s-lands. In reality, swamps serve vital roles in flood protection and nutrient removal. Floodplain forests are especially high in productivity and species diversity because of the rich deposits of alluvial soil from floods. Many upland creatures depend on the abundance of food found in the lowland swamps, and valuable timber can be sustainably harvested to provide building materials for people.

Villagers milling around one of the rehabilitated canals.

KARACHI, Pakistan (Asia Water Wire) – The 18th century port-city is not only Pakistan’s largest but also boasts of a harbour which is said to be among the best in Asia. 

   The city lies northwest of the Indus delta, the country’s largest river system. Another river, Lyari flows across the city and empties into the harbour comprising of over 3 kilometres of wharfs, docks and other installations. 

How much money?

Asian Development Bank: 120 million U.S. dollars (uncertain)
Japan Bank for International Cooperation: 52 million dollars
Norway: 28 million dollars (terminated)
Swedish International Development Agency: 25 million dollars (uncertain)
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries: 14 million dollars
Nordic Development Fund: 9 million dollars
Government of Nepal: 120 million dollars

Asia Water Wire's Bikash Sangraula interviewed UN-HABITAT's Dr Roshan Raj Shrestha, on the implications of what happens to the Melamchi megaproject in Nepal.

Dr Shreshtha, Chief Technical Advisor, Water for Asian Cities Programme, UN HABITAT in Kathmandu, replied in his personal capacity.

AWW: If Melamchi collapses (which is highly likely), what will be its impact on the water supply situation in Kathmandu Valley ?

From space, our Earth looks like a blue, watery planet. Indeed, water covers about 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. But of this amount, 97 percent is salt water. Of the remaining 3 percent, which is fresh water, 2.5 percent are frozen in glaciers and ice caps That leaves only 0.5 percent of potable, drinkable water!