DUSHANBE, November 20, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Water prices will rise in Dushanbe beginning on January 1, 2015.

“The antimonopoly commission has made such a decision following a proposal of the State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Dushanbe Vodokanal (DVK – Dushanbe municipal waterworks),” Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor’s office, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the water price hike results from the rising prices for electricity and water purification regents.  

“Besides, we should raise the rates in order to recoup loans provided by the World Bank for the Dushanbe water supply projects,” Saidov noted.

Starting from January 1, 2015, prices will be 1.18 somoni per one cubic meter of water for federally funded institutions and 2.95 somoni per one cubic meter of water for commercial enterprises.  The monthly rate for residential customers will be raised from 3.31 somoni to 4.14 somoni, the spokesman said.