KHUJAND, August 4, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Authorities of the miners’ town of Shurab in the northern Isfara district have reportedly failed to ensure the provision of the population with safe drinking water.

According to local residents, the town have been experiencing an acute shortage of safe drinking water for already several years.  Residents of the town may stock up drinking water only twice a week, while the rest of the time they have to buy imported water at 3.00-4.00 somoni per 100 liters.

To improve the water supply situation in the area, the UNDP Tajikistan in 2010 launched the project, Conflict Prevention and Mitigation n the Ferghana Valley, under financial support of the Government of Norway.

The project aims at providing support for sustainable political and economic development which promotes good governance, conflict prevention, democracy, human rights and gender equality in tandem with the local authorities and population of Isfara district.

The project is currently working in three jamoats of Isfara – Chorkuh, Surkh and Shurab.

Ms. Zumrat Normatova, conflict prevention specialist, UNDP field office in Khujand, says water supply system in the Shurab jamoat has been partially rehabilitated in the framework of the project.  According to her, water supply was laid on in the Ayni settlement of the Shurab jamoat and 50 families from the Chorkuh and Surkh jamoats will be relocated to the Ayni settlement.

“Late execution of work by the Shurab administration is one of factors impeding implementation of the infrastructure development projects in the area,” Ms. Normatova stressed.