Crossroads Asia | Economy | Central Asia
Real reform in the water sector means building a system that makes corruption harder to commit, easier to detect, and less rewarding for those who might try.
Corruption scandals in Uzbekistan are becoming louder, more sector-specific, and more politically significant. On June 26, officials from the National Anti-Corruption Council, a body chaired by Tanzila Norboyeva (who also heads the Uzbek Senate), revealed at a meeting held at the Ministry of Water Resources that 243 corruption-related crimes had been committed by 301 ministry employees over the past two and a half years, causing more than 70 billion Uzbek som ($5.8 million) in damages. The figure is alarming. Even more concerning is what it might reveal about the sector’s underlying structure.
The question at the heart of the matter is not simply why some officials abuse their power; it is why corruption continues to thrive in one of Uzbekistan’s most strategically important sectors.
Water has long been a politically important resource for Uzbekistan, with significant environmental, socio-economic, and geopolitical implications. But growing scarcity and regional pressures have increased its strategic importance. The country is one of the most water-stressed countries in Eurasia, with the largest population in Central Asia. Up to 90 percent of Uzbekistan’s freshwater is used for agriculture. That sector, although it provides 25 percent of the country’s GDP and total employment, is notoriously disadvantaged by leaky pipes, poorly maintained canals, and outdated irrigation systems.
