DUSHANBE, August 5, 2008, Asia-Plus — Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Charge D’Affaires, Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe, today exchanged notes concerning the General Grant Aid of the Government of Japan for the project for improvement of water supply in Khatlon’s Hamadoni district.
According to press release issued by the Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe, the Hamadoni district faces severe shortage of water for drinking and agriculture irrigation purposes. Of 80 tube wells that exist in the district only 23 are functioning and the rest are abandoned due to deteriorated infrastructure system, built more than 40 years ago and lack of required spare parts for pumps maintenance. Streams, rivers, canals and hand-dug wells are not only the main sources of water there but also sources of waterborne diseases, mainly typhoid and hepatitis as there is no filtration or drainage system. Absence of adequate and reliable water supply system adversely affects the population’s health and welfare, hinders the district’s socioeconomic and agriculture production development as well as enhancement of its food security.
Considering that and on the request of the Tajik Government, the Government of Japan allocated up to ¥955 million (equivalent to US$ 8.8 million) under the Japan Grant Assistance for the execution of the project for improvement of water supply in the Hamadoni district. The project is aimed to enhance the water supply system in this district through the construction of new water supply facilities. The successful completion of the project will have a huge benefit for its population by providing access to pure and quality potable water, which will not only contribute to significantly reducing the risk of waterborne diseases in the South of Tajikistan but will facilitate the overall health improvement, sustainable agricultural production and further development of this part of the country.
In 1993 – 2007, the Government of Japan has extended over US$ 93 million in grant and technical assistance for the development of diverse sectors of economy, agriculture, education, healthcare, culture, as well as human resources potential of Tajikistan.
