DUSHANBE, April 8, Asia-Plus  -- The population now owe more than 70 million somonis (equivalent to more than $20.4 million) to Tajik state natural-gas distributor, Tojikgaz, according to the Tojikgaz director general Fathiddin Muhsiddinov.  

Fathiddinov noted that residents of Dushanbe alone currently owe 30 million somonis ()some $8.8 million) to Tojikgaz and the rate of the collection of funds from the public and enterprises evokes concern.     

We will recall that Uzbekistan has cut natural-gas shipments to Tajikistan due to $7 million in arrears that Tojikgaz owes to Uzbekistan.