DUSHANBE, July 27, Asia-Plus - At present, “Khojagii Manziliu Kommunali (KMK), Tajikistan’s basic municipal services enterprise, is experiencing certain difficulties connected with the fact that basic infrastructure of KMK and its local subsidiary has practically outlived its usefulness and become obsolete, the KMK director genera, Muhammadjon Mahmadjonov, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 27. 

According to him, the majority of special equipment of the KMK has become obsolete and requires replacement.   

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Mahmadjonov noted that a part of these problems would be tackled within the Tajikistan municipal infrastructure development project sponsored by the World Bank.  

“The World Bank has provided US$15 million and the country’s government has provided US$1.5 million for the implementation of this project, aiming at improvement of the availability, quality and efficiency of delivery of basic municipal services to the population of eight Tajik towns participating in this project,” the KMK director general said.  

This objective will be achieved by financing three project components: 1) the rehabilitation and repair of basic infrastructure and installations and/or the replacement of equipment of KMK; 2) assistance to the KMK and its local subsidiary utility enterprises in improving their management capacity for the delivery of basic municipal services; and 3) implementation of project activities.   

The project provides for reconstruction and rehabilitation of a part of water supply system, as well as purchase of special machines for collection and removal of solid waste.  The project will target Konibodom, Istaravshan, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Vahdat, Vose, Gharm and Danghara, according to Mahmadjonov.  .  

The KMK director general the project designed for five years has already been launched in the mentioned towns.   

Muhammadjon Mahmadjonov said that another project aimed rehabilitation of water supply system in the Hissor district was launched on June 29. The estimated budget of the implementation of this project drafted by the KMK is more than US$1.5 million.  Turkish Agency for International Cooperation (TICA) is investing in this project, which will allow to provide 25,000 people in the administrative center of Hissor with safe drinking water, according to him.