Members of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament today unanimously voted for ratification of an agreement between the State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Khojagii Manziliyu Kommunali (KMK – the state holding company for public utilities) and the International Development Association (IDA), the part of the World Bank that helps the world's poorest countries, on the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project.
Presenting the document to lawmakers, the Minister of Finance Faiziddin Qahhorzoda said the IDA would provide a US$58 million grant for implementation of the project, which would focus on helping communities in seven district of the southern Khatlon province with the highest levels of poverty and inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions.
Over the next five years, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project will be implemented by the SUE KMK and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, through the Local Infrastructure Development Project Management Unit under the Government of Tajikistan.
Over one million residents of the Khatlon province will gain access to clean drinking water, the minister noted.
Besides, Majlisi Namoyandagon member today voted for ratification of an agreement on the Yovon solid waste management project.
According to Qahhorzoda, the agreement was signed between the Yovon Housing and Municipal Production and Operational Department and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the summer.
The Bank provides a U$2 million grant for implementation of this project, which aims to improve and expand the solid waste collection and transportation network in Yovon and surrounding villages, the minister said.
