Kyrgyzstan to Attract $60 Million EFSD Loan for Water Supply to 178,000 Residents of Osh Region

Jogorku Kenesh approved in first reading a bill on ratification of an agreement with the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), signed in Bishkek on July 16, 2024. The document provides for a loan of $60 million USD for a period of 20 years.

The funds are intended to ensure centralized drinking water supply to more than 178,000 rural residents of Karasu district (26 villages) and Uzgen district (6 villages) of Osh region, Kaber reported.

Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Mirbek Dyusheev delivered a report at the session. He explained that upon completion of construction, the facilities will be transferred to local government bodies.

During discussion, deputies raised a number of specific questions. Deputy Gyulay Mashrapova asked what criteria were used to select villages, pointing to an acute water shortage in certain settlements of the Otuz-Adyr aiyl aimak of Karasu district. Deputy Zhyldyz Egenberdiyeva noted that water supply networks in the village of Karool in Uzgen district were laid 60 years ago and require replacement. Deputy Taalaiyek Sarybashov criticized the practice of incomplete projects, citing the situation in the Budalyk aiyl okrug of Gulcha city.

Deputy Ulanbek Zhaanbaev reported that the first phase of the Nookata water supply project, scheduled for completion in November of this year, has been postponed to April of next year. Deputy Bolotbek Borbiyev raised the issue of financing the second phase of Toktogul water supply and the need for construction of treatment facilities.

At the same session, deputies considered a number of other financial bills.