British Envoy Unhappy With Slow Pace of Power Plant’s Construction in Tajik East

Excerpt from report by privately-owned Tajik Avesta website on 10 October

Dushanbe, 10 October: The British ambassador to Tajikistan, Graeme Loten, has expressed regret over the [slow] pace of construction of a small hydroelectric power station in Purbogh village of [eastern] Rasht District’s Tagob community.

An Avesta’s correspondent said that in accordance with the schedule the small hydroelectric power station should have been commissioned today on 10 October, and a ceremony to commission this hydroelectric facility with participation of representatives from the British embassy [in Tajikistan], local authorities and local residents should have taken place here.

It was learnt at the power plant’s construction site that the construction work, which is being carried out by hashar [involving volunteers], is now only 60 per cent complete. This hydroelectric power station with the capacity of 33 kWh is meant to ensure all- year round electricity to 30 families in Purbogh village.

[Passage omitted: some 7,000 dollars have been spent on the construction of the hydroelectric power station, including 5,000 dollars from the British embassy in Tajikistan]

Originally published by Avesta website, Dushanbe, in Russian 1042 10 Oct 08.

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