DUSHANBE, January 22, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) has ratified a grant agreement with the Asian Development Bank on the Creation of Sustainability to Climate Change in the Panj River Basin Project.

A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on January 22.

Speaking at the session, MP Sharofiddin Sirojev noted that ADB provided a grant of more than 22 million U.S. dollars for implementation of this project and Tajikistan provided counterpart funding of more than 2 million U.S. dollars for the project, which is due for completion in 2019.

We will recall that the agreement was signed in Dushanbe on September 18, 2013.

The project is expected to reduce the adverse effects of climate change in 59 villages in the Panj River basin and increase communities’ ability to cope with the expected increase in temperature and precipitation variability, improve access to water services, and provide information and affordable finance to improve agriculture and diversify the economy.

The Majlisi Namoyandagon also ratified an agreement on cooperating in training of personnel for anti-terrorism units at educational facilities of competent bodies of the CIS nations and an agreement between the CIS nations on cooperating on logistical support for competent bodies engaged in combating terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism.