In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, top managers of the State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Khojagii Manziliyu Kommunali (KMK – the state holding company for public utilities) noted on July 26 that drinking water rates will not be raised this year.
Recall, current rates for one cubic meter of drinking are 1.09 somonis for residential customers, 2.02 somonis for federally funded institutions and 3.48 somonis for commercial organizations.
Meanwhile, current sewer bills (for one cubic meter) are 0.55 somoni for residential customers, 1.09 somonis for federally funded institutions and 1.88 somonis for commercial organization.
If there are meters, then subscribers will pay according to their readings.
It is to be noted that KMK now provides water supply services to 13 percent of the country’s population. Companies for public utilities in Dushanbe, Khujand, Faizobod, Nurek, Kulob, Yovon, Vahdat, Varzob, Shahrinav and Tursunzoda are subordinate to local authorities. In Dushanbe, for example, SUE Dushanbevodokanal (DVK — municipal water works) provides the water supply services.
Speaking at the news conference, KMK top managers also noted that all the population of the country will be provided with access to safe drinking water by 2030.
During the first six months of this year, only 65.8 percent of the country’s population, or 6.635 million people, have reportedly had access to the centralized water supply system, which is reportedly 706,000 people more than in the same period last year
KMK top managers had earlier noted that Tajikistan needs 10 billion somonis (more than 1 billion US dollars) to fully provide the country’s population with access to safe drinking water.
This amount has not included costs of keeping the water supply facilities in an optimum working order and proper functioning. There have been approximate figures.
KMK top managers noted today at the news conference that a special working group is currently studying how much money is needed for implementation of this project.
