DUSHANBE, April 11, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Thursday, April 9, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Grant Aid Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in the Panj district of Khatlon province was held at the Panj Vodokanal.

According to JICA Tajikistan Office, the ceremony was attended by Mr. Tavakalzoda, chairperson of the Panj district, Mr. Fayzullozoda, first deputy head of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, Mr. Taghoimurodov, head of the State Unitary Enterprise “Khojagii Manziliyu Kommunali”, Mr. Koike, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Ishii, Resident Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office and other officials.

The Project reportedly includes construction of two water supply systems.  The first water supply system will be constructed to supply water to the Panj Township and three adjacent villages such as Shakhmat village, Imon Mashrapov village and Hasan Sherov village.  The second water supply system will be constructed in the northern part of the Panj Township and will provide water to three villages such as Sarmantoy-1, Sarmantoy-2 and Turdishaikh villages.  After completion of the Project more than 24,000 people will have access to clean drinking water.

The Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in the Panj district is a four-year project with a total cost of 1.628 billion Japanese Yen (equivalent to approximately 16 million USD).  This is the second project of JICA in water supply sector in Tajikistan.  The first project on improvement of drinking water supply in the Hamadoni district was completed in 2013 with a total budget of 1.734 billion Japanese Yen (equivalent to approximately 17 million USD).