DUSHANBE, June 29, 2016, Asia-Plus — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on June 25 inaugurated a drinking water supply project that is expected to benefit 58 households, housing 354 people in disaster affected area of Ghudara village of Bartang valley, Rushan district, in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
The project that aims at improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation was implemented by Aga Khan Foundation and supported by the Government of Finland, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said.
Bartang Valley was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on December 7, 2015 that destroyed 223 buildings, including houses, schools and medical points, as well as partially destroyed more than 300 buildings, and caused many people to be temporarily evacuated.
Villages of Bartang Valley are extremely remote and the distance from them to Rushan District Center is approximately 180 kilometers and 250 kilometers to Khorog, the regional capital of GBAO. The impoverished population of the remote village used to walk long distance to collect water.
“It is an honor for Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) that Tajik President, initiator of UN Water for Life Decade, inaugurates our water supply project. We believe that access to clean water and adequate sanitation will lead to improved health conditions and reduced water-borne deceases in the village,” said Mr. Akbar Ali Pesnani, AKDN Resident Representative to Tajikistan.
Rahmon also inaugurated Pasor’s mini-hydroelectric power station (HPS) in Bartang valley of Rushan district. The 104,000 USD project is expected to deliver renewable energy to 124 households, housing 722 people in three remote villages of Pasor, Bopasor and Ghudara in Bartang valley. This project was implemented by Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) of Aga Khan Development Network.
“Apart from construction of hydroelectric power station and provision of the impoverished and isolated population of Bartang Valley with water supply system, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the aftermath of the earthquake also supported construction of houses for the affected community, as well as contributed to capacity in disaster risk reduction and resilience building,” said Mr. Yodgor Faizov, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Tajikistan.
On June 26, Emomali Rahmon inaugurated the Pamir Mountain Welcome Center (PMWC) and Youth, Sports and Culture complex in Khorog.
The PMWC will be a hub for leisure and tourism related businesses. Managed by the Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA) it will provide office space, meeting space, a souvenir shop, information center, lost-and-found service, equipment rent service for mountaineering and touring equipment, laundry cafe and other needed services. The PMWC will provide services to over 5000 tourists a year and conduct trainings for over 80 employees of its member tour operators annually.
The multi-purpose Youth, Sports and Culture complex constructed near the Tem cross-border market will serve as an additional facility to foster the cross-border cooperation and cultural dialogue between the Tajik and Afghan communities living on both side of the Panj river and contribute to stability in the border areas. Besides day-to-day sports activities, the center is constructed and equipped with movable equipment to transform it easily to serve as well for culture events, conferences, fairs, and large meetings.
The Pamir Mountain Welcome Center and Youth, Sports and Culture complex were built under the Peace Building and Livelihood Opportunities in Conflict Affected Afghan/Tajik Border Communities Project financed by the British Embassy in Dushanbe. The project aims at improving stability along the Tajik-Afghan border by maximizing economic opportunities and cultural exchange. The project was implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation Tajikistan together with the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP). The total project budget was GBP 500,000.
