QURGHON TEPPA, July 25, Asia-Plus — Natural-gas debts of Qurghon Teppa, the capital of the Khatlon province, have come down 354,325 somonis since the beginning of the year and amounted, as of July 1, to 6,389,691 somonis, Mahmoudjon Khorkashev, the deputy head of Qurghonteppagaz (Qurghon Teppa natural-gas distributor), remarked at a news conference in Qurghon Teppa on July 24.  

According to him, over the same period, the public natural-gas debts have increased by 151,669somonis and amounted to 398,183 somonis.  “The public natural-gas debts have increased because the communal services'' subsidies for vulnerable families in the Bokhtar district and the city of Qurghon Teppa have not yet come from the national budget,” Khorkashev said.  

He added that this year, they have had to file suits against the 82 most incorrigible nonpayers and as a result of that, they have paid 8,938 somonis.

“This year, the Khatlon economic court has considered a case pitting Qurghonteppagaz against the Sarband-based enterprise TojikAzot (mineral fertilizers producer), which now owes 6,156,788 to Qurghonteppagaz,” said Khorkashev, “The court issued ruling in favor of Qurghonteppagaz, however, TojikAzot has repaid only 6,726 somonis.”