ADB to allocate $42M to improve water supply, sanitation in Dushanbe

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a grant of $ 41.18 million to rehabilitate and expand the water supply and sanitation infrastructure of Dushanbe, Asia Plus reported.

These funds are allocated to improve the provision of public services in the south-eastern part of the city, the ADB office in Tajikistan said.

Thus, for the first time, ADB is financing the implementation of a project in the urban sector of Tajikistan.

“This project will directly benefit 100,000 people through improved water supply and 352,000 people through improved sanitation. The project will develop a sustainable model of water supply and sanitation, and we hope that this model can be applied throughout the city. Improvements will help advance people's living conditions and health,” said ADB’s senior urban development specialist Ramola Naik Singru.

It is expected that within the project, the climate-resilient water supply and sanitation infrastructure in southeast Dushanbe will be repaired and expanded, 18 regional measurement zones will be created and a new network management system with smart water meters to manage tap water without loss will be installed. Within the project, wells, pumps, chlorination and other facilities at the Cafernigan I water treatment plant will be renovated, the distribution network in certain areas improved and the southern collector to collect wastewater repaired.

“The project will also help develop a sustainable business model and strengthen the institutional capacity of the State Unitary Enterprise “Dushanbevodokanal” and conduction of a pilot campaign to change behavior and raise public awareness about water consumption and the benefits of smart meters,” the report said.

According to official data, the population of the capital of Tajikistan amounts to 820,000 people. The population of the capital is expected to increase due to growing migration from rural areas. The unplanned expansion of the city, especially in its south-eastern part, increased the burden on urban services, especially on the aging water supply and sanitation systems. In some parts of the city, water is only available for 4 to 8 hours a day, and water pressure is low. About 60 percent of the city’s water supply is not taken into account, that is, it is lost as a result of leaks in the system. Water consumption is also high due to low tariffs and limited understanding of water as a resource. The main sewer system flows into the nearby soil, leading to pollution and waterborne diseases.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998. In 2018, ADB is celebrating 20 years of cooperation with Tajikistan. ADB's partnership with Tajikistan, which began in 1998, allowed for rehabilitating or building a new transport and energy infrastructure in the country, helped social development, expanded agricultural production and supported regional cooperation and trade.

The Asian Development Bank was founded in 1966. The mission of the bank is to reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) through inclusive economic and environmentally sustainable growth, as well as regional integration. The head office of ADB is located in the capital of the Philippines - the city of Manila. The bank's shareholders are 67 countries, 48 of which are located in the Asia-Pacific region.