Inauguration of new water supply scheme attended by the World Bank high-level officials
Inauguration of new water supply system took place in Vinogradnoe Village on March 3, 2024 as part of the World Bank-funded Sustainable Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Development Project supported by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Official event was attended by Executive Directors and other World Bank representatives headed by Mr. Dominique FAVRE. In addition, First Deputy Governor of Chui region Mr. Samat Ismanov, the ARIS Executive Director <r. Mars Naspekov, Project Coordinator Korchubai uulu Erlan, project staff, local government officials and community members took part in the ceremony.
Members of the World Bank delegation were updated in detail on the Project activity; in particular, they were invited to overview the water intake where ARIS Executive Director described the works for rehabilitation of the water supply scheme.
“The water supply system in Vinogradnoe Village has been constructed in 1970. It used groundwater extracted from tube wells without further disinfection. There were multiple dilapidated and broken sections failing to ensure full and safe water supply. As part of the subproject, detailed design has been prepared, which suggested technical solutions for construction and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure for full-fledged operation of the water supply scheme. As a result of works, 1 200 households now have access to continuous supply of safe drinking water”, Executive Director said.
Further, the delegation visited a household where its owner, Ms. Munirakhon Saifullaeva narrated about hardships people had because of lack of sage potable water. she noted that, building on the support from the World Bank and the Cabinet of Ministers as well as diligent works of ARIS specialists she has water in her house permanently.
Upon reviewing the activities under Component 1, the delegation went to school No.2 where indoor sanitation facilities have been rehabilitated. During the tour the visitors were informed that, on the basis of the design, indoor facilities included separate washrooms for students and teachers, personal hygiene room for girls, wash sinks and water boilers in washrooms and at the entrance, and rehabilitation of outdoor “septic tank” for effluents.
According to the principal of the school, besides indoor conveniences close attention has been paid to sanitation development among students and local community members. To this end, awareness-raising and educational activities have been implemented resulting in good understanding of the importance of personal hygiene among young Kyrgyzstanis.
Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, the World Bank's Regional Director for Central Asia noted that water supply was one of the three priority areas for current Partnership Strategy between the Kyrgyz Republic and the World Bank and that the former was prepared to provide further support to the sector.
Students then performed a concert during which Mr. Favre extended gratitude to everyone for the work noting that the project could not be of success without proactive participation of beneficiaries.
As Mr. Favre said, «Today we are privileged to be at the event that is meaningful for all of us. We are pleased to see that efforts towards improving the environment for local communities have been fruitful. It is the World Bank's practice to learn experiences and methodologies from successful operations and adopt them in other countries. We are quite sure that Kyrgyzstan's experience may become a showcase for other countries”.
Moreover, the Project supports establishment and further capacity building of municipal water enterprises providing operation and maintenance equipment/tools, office equipment, comprehensive training for their sustainable operation as well as finance management and institutional development.
Information:
The Project includes activities envisaged by the 2026 Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Development Program endorsed by the Government Decree No.330 dated June 12, 2020.
The Kyrgyz Republic’s Community Development and Investment Agency has been selected as an implementing agency for the Project.
