DUSHANBE, October 17, Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon harshly criticized improper activities of the Khatlon authorities, speaking at a meeting of the Khatlon regional government in Qurghon Teppa yesterday, presidential press service reported.  

The president noted that although the revenue part of the Khatlon budget had been overfulfilled by 6.2 million somonis, but the regional budget had received 6.3 million somonis less than its due as some districts had failed to fulfill their tax targets.

On the expenditure part of the budget, Rahmon noted that some sectors had received 10.67 million somonis less.  

The president also demanded at the meeting that a practice of writing off debts and extending the term of repaying them should be stopped.  

Rahmon noted that over the first nine months of this year, the Khatlon province has produced a total of 688 million somonis’ worth of industrial goods, which is 60 million somonis more than in the same period of last year.  However, 50 of 208 local enterprises have failed to reach the January-September 2006 level.

According to him, production of carbamide, ammonia, natural gas, fuel oil, coals, bricks, salt and wheat flour has decreased over the report period. 

He also noted that construction of spinning-textile enterprises in Farkhor and Yovon districts has not yet been completed, while they were supposed to be finished in 2006 already.

Dwelling on state of the energy sector, the president said that in January-September 2007, the province has consumed 1.53 billion kWh of electricity for a total amount of 30 million somonis.  However, 80 percent of the consumed electricity (27 million) has yet been repaid. 

He noted that so far, the province has stocked up only 50 tons of coal.  The president charged the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) and Tojikgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) to take urgent measures to provide the population with coals and gas.  

He also criticized activity of the cotton sector in Khatlon.  He noted that some investors set the cotton prices at the rate of 12-13 dirams per kilogram instead of the determined 20 dirams. 

“According to data of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), as of July 1, 2007, Tajik cotton farmers have owed their creditors 409 million dollars, and the Khatlon province has accounted for more than 74 percent ($302 million) of this debt,” the president said.   He ordered central bank and relevant ministries and organizations to study this issue and seek solution to this problem.  

The head of state also criticized improper state of affairs in production of grain, fruits and vegetables, as well as bee-keeping, stock-raising and gardening, and demanded at the meeting that the situation should be put right in the shortest time and set precise tasks to bring the situation back to normal.   

The president also pointed to the necessity of resolving issues related to payment for water and management of lands in the province.