DUSHANBE, July 17, Asia-Plus – 40 investment water supply projects totaling 278 million Somonis have to date been implemented in Tajikistan, Minister of land Reclamation and Water Resources, Abduqohir Nazriov, told journalists on July 17.
Thus, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided US$43 million to fund the project for rehabilitation of the country’s agrarian sector, according to the minister. “In the first half-year of 2006, a project aimed at rehabilitation of the irrigation system has been launched in
Tajikistan
,” Mr. Nazirov said, noting that ADB provided US$29 million in loans for implementing this project. The project is supposed to enhance access of 138,000 people in Vose, Vakhsh, Bokhtar, Asht, Rushan and other districts of the country to water.
“Besides, the project on management of water resources in
Ferghana
Valley
will allow improve access of 250,000 people to water,” said the minister, “The World Bank has provided a US$14 million grant for the implementation of this project, and the Tajik government’s contribution to this project amounts to US$12 million.”
According to the minister, the main problem facing the country’s water economy is debts of water users. Nazirov said that water users now owe 51 million Somonis (equivalent to more than US$15 million).
According to him, at present the ministry has a 3 million Somonis debt on wages. Besides, it now owes 10 million Somonis to the Ministry of State Revenues and Tax Collection, as well as 21 million Somonis to the “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric systems) power holding.
