DUSHANBE, October 9, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov visited a number of districts in the Kulob zone of Khatlon province on October 7-8 to get acquainted with the river bank reinforcement work and disaster prevention measures taken in the area, according to the source at the government.

On October 7, the prime minister visited the city and the district of Kulob as well as Hamadoni and Vose districts.

In the city and the district of Kulob, Oqilov familiarized himself with construction of the river bank protection works on the Tebalay River in the city of Kulob.

In Hamadoni district, Oqilov visited the Chubek water-intake facility to get acquainted with the pace of work on rehabilitation of embankment dams and measures taken to prevent floods and mudflows.  He also pointed to the necessity of targeted use of funds allocated for the river bank reinforcement work.

The prime minister also visited the villages of Qurbonshahid, Chorbogh and Angurbogh in Vose district that were affected by the May floods.

On October 8, the prime minister visited Muminobod and Temourmalik districts.

In Muminobod, Oqilov familiarized himself with work of the water supply system and pump stations.  He also visited the village of Tutu, where the bridge was destroyed by a flood in early May.

In Temourmalik district, Oqilov got acquainted with the disaster prevention measures taken to lessen the impact of flooding on settlements and ordered the district administration to provide all necessary conditions for construction of the river bank protection works on the Surkhob and Tohirsou rivers and provide assistance to the disaster-hit families in the district.

Deputy Prime Minister, Murodali Alimardon, and senior representatives from relevant ministries and agencies accompanied the prime minister on his trip to the Kulob region.  

We will recall that the Tebalay River breeched its banks in early May this year.  The May floods killed at least 20 people in the Kulob zone of Khatlon province, leaving over 200 injured and more than 4,000 displaced from their homes.