DUSHANBE, May 2, Asia-Plus -- More than US$150 million are needed for full reconstruction of the water supply system in Dushanbe, Muzaffar Ishoqov, head of the foreign aid coordination unit at the President’s Executive Office, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 28.   

According to him, they are currently negotiating with the World Bank (WB) and other organizations further financing of the Dushanbe water supply projects.  To date, two projects are already working and another one is nearing completion, according to Ishoqov.  

Besides, one more project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is supposed to be launched in near future, Ishoqov said.   

Hamroqul Samiyev, head of the unit for management of the IDB-sponsored Dushanbe water supply projects, speaking to journalists, noted that it was supposed to connect a part of Dushanbe, which is currently provided with water from the Varzob River, to artesian wells.  “We plan to implement this project consisting of two phases in 2? years,“ Samiyev said, adding that the IDB had provided more than 9.2 million U.S. dollars for the implementation of the first phase of the project.   

To date, they have worked out the second phase of the project, according to Samiyev.  “The estimated budget for the implementation of the second phase of the project is US$18 million,” he said, adding that with the implementation of the project the Dushanbe population will go over to using water from artesian wells.  

In the meantime, Jamshed Laqayev, head of the unit for coordination of the Dushanbe water supply projects, speaking to journalists noted that a work on replacement of old pipes was ongoing.  “It is planned to replace 37 kilometers of old water pipes,” Laqayev said, noting that they have to date replaced some 30 kilometers of old water pipes.  

On the water pipes inside the apartments in the city, Jamshed Laqayev said that Japan’s Social Development Fund had provided a grant of more than US$2 million.  “But these funds are enough for replace old water pipes only in 7.5 percent of residential buildings,” said Laqayev, “For full replacement of old water pipes inside the apartments in Dushanbe we need more than US$30 million.”