DUSHANBE, August 14, Asia-Plus -- Some 90 percent of work on the workout of the program for enhancement Tajik population access to safe drinking water designed for 2007-2020 has been done so far, according to press service of the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources. 

“However, because of negligence of some officials a process of workout of this program, which was supposed to be submitted for consideration to the government by August 1, is being delayed,” the source said.  

The program, which is planned to be launched next year, is expected to be adopted by the government in October.  The program stipulates bringing a total number of the country’s rural population having access to safe drinking water up to 70%-80% by 2020. 

At present 43 percent of the rural population and 93 percent of the urban population in Tajikistan have access to safe drinking water, according to the source. 

Of a total number of the country’s population, 72 percent lives in rural areas.  According to data from the State Committee for Statistics, a total number of the country’s population has exceeded 7 million.