An official ceremony for completion of the Japan Grant Aid Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in Panj district of Khatlon province and putting into operation the water supply facility took place at Vodokanal (district waterworks) of Panj district on October 7.  The ceremony was attended by Mr. Rasoulzoda,  Prime-Minister of Tajikistan, Mr. Gulmahmadzoda, Governor of Khatlon province, Mr.Sayfuddinzoda, Head of Panj district, Mr.Islomzoda, Director General of State Unitary Enterprise “Khojagii Manziliyu Kommunali”, Mr. Kitaoka, Japan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Ishii, Resident Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office, and other officials.

According to JICA Tajikistan, the project provides for construction of two water supply systems, and each of them includes the drilling of boreholes, construction of high-elevated tank and installation of water supply network.  The first water supply system will supply water to Panj town and three adjacent villages such as Shakhmat village, Imon Mashrapov village and Hasan Sherov village.  The second water supply system which is in the northern part of Panj Township will provide water to the following three villages:  Sarmantoy-1; Sarmantoy-2; and Turdishaikh.

It must be mentioned that the high-elevated tank with a volume of 1800m3 constructed within the framework of the project is unique and has no analog in the Central Asia.  After completion of the project more than 29000 people will have access to clean drinking water.

Japan Grant Aid Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in Panj district of Khatlon province was implemented with a total cost of 1.893 billion Japanese Yen (approximately, 18.9 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 Hamadoni district was completed in 2013 with a total budget of 1.734 billion Japanese yen.