DUSHANBE, December 2, 2009, Asia-Plus — Sale of shares in the Roghun hydroelectric power plant to the population is a good initiative but it should not be just a forced imposition, Tajik independent expert Masoud Sobirov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, this initiative allows the population participating in construction of this hydropower facility. “Investment of population’s funds in construction of the Roghun HPP will turn the plant into really national property,” said Sobirov, “However, the government must take management of these funds under its strict control. It is usually quite difficult to control investments and loans. If there is no proper control, purchase of the Roghun shares will be just waste of money. I think the government must quarterly report on use of public funds raised for Roghun’s construction through media, saying how many shares were sold and what for the funds were used.”
He added that the share sale process should be transparent and the government should guarantee targeted use of the funds. “For rich person, 3,000 somoni is an inconsiderable amount, while for person, who receives 200-300 somoni per month, it is important to know what for his earned funds were used,” Sobirov said.
