DUSHANBE, June 26, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Directorate for the Flood Zone of Roghun Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) does not agree with conclusions of the report of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on the Roghun dam resettlement program.

Sami Sharif, who has headed the Directorate for the Flood Zone of Roghun HPP since February this year, says the government has spent 202 million somoni for construction of the power transmission lines, water pipes network, roads, aid stations and  five schools over three years since the Roghun dam resettlement program was launched.

He agreed that that there are some problems because Tajikistan has faced such large-scale resettlement for the first time, “but we are working on resolving these problems.”

According to him, all resettled families have e been receiving compensations.  “They receive 40 percent of the amount while building foundation, 40 percent is given to them during the construction of the house and the remaining amount sis given to them for provision of necessary facilities,” the head of the Directorate for the Flood Zone of Roghun HPP noted.

We will recall that a report on the Roghun dam by Francesca Corbacho, a Human Right Watch (HRW) fellow, We Suffered When We Came Here , has been released today. 

The 81-page report examines serious shortcomings in the government’s resettlement of 1,500 families since 2009. The Roghun Dam and Hydropower Plant stands to displace over 42,000 people before it is operational. The major problem, people said, was that they were not given enough compensation to replace their homes.  In addition, many people were not able to get land in their new communities that they needed for agriculture and livestock to supplement their incomes, and some new communities did not yet have schools.

The report, in particular, notes that Tajik authorities have not fully respected the rights of families being resettled to make way for the Roghun hydroelectric dam.

The Tajik government has not provided displaced families with compensation to replace their homes or restore their livelihoods, despite commitments to meet international standards in the resettlement process, the report says, noting that many resettled families have suffered serious disruptions in access to housing, food, water, and education.

Some 1,500 families have been resettled from the area since 2009.

The Roghun dam and hydropower plant is expected to displace more than 42,000 people before it is operational.

HRW also urged the World Bank and other potential donors to work with Tajik authorities to ensure that human rights are respected throughout the resettlement process.