DUSHANBE, April 23, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Introduction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) into operation will allow developing more than 300 million hectares of new lands in the country and improving land reclamation both in Tajikistan and neighboring Uzbekistan.

Land Reclamation and Water Resources Minister Said Yoqubzod remarked this while speaking to reporters in Dushanbe on April 22.

“Water economy authorities of neighboring countries are well aware that the Roghun reservoir will be filled during 13 years and water coming into the reservoir will account for not more than 10 percent of the annual water consumption and in case of necessity, Tajikistan will be able to provide this volume due to existing reservoirs as it was done last year in order to help the downstream countries in connection with drought,” the minister said.

On the irrigation systems of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Yoqubzod said they had been constructed in the 1960s already and had become obsolete.  “According to the UNDP estimates, Uzbekistan loses some 40 percent of water due to ageing irrigation system, while landscape of our country allows 35-40 percent of waters used in the agrarian sector to flow into the Amu Darya River,” the minister said.