Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Uzsuvtaminot denies information about embezzlement of US$7 million of the loan of the Asian Development Bank.

On 23 August 2016, an agreement was signed on the implementation of the project “Provision of drinking water to Bayaut, Khavast, Mirzaabad, Sardoba and Akaltyn regional centers of Sirdarya region”, the press service of Uzsuvtaminot said.

The Turkish company Alke Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret was appointed as the contractor on the basis of the protocol of the International Tender Commission.

For the implementation of this project, US$7.31 million were allocated. The project was implemented with the participation of the World Bank and not the Asian Development Bank, as indicated in the media reports. At the same time, the World Bank allocated US$6.25 million, and Uzbekistan – US$1.06 million.

These funds were not embezzled, the contractor completed all the work stipulated by the project. In particular, the contractor, together with the subcontractor - the joint venture Mega-Mebiko, laid 28 km of fiberglass pipes with a diameter of 700 mm from the Sirgali water structure to the Okchangal settlement in Khavast district and completed construction and installation work in June 2019.

However, at present, these pipes do not withstand the pressure, which is why leaks occur in some pickets, which, in turn, prevents uninterrupted water supply to the population of the area.

Based on the above, today:

firstly, the issue of replacing fiberglass pipes with polyethylene pipes is being considered;

secondly, despite the fact that this facility is not on the balance sheet of Uzsuvtaminot JSC, the joint-stock company provides the population of this region with clean drinking water.

thirdly, the joint-stock company provides contractors and construction organizations with practical assistance in replacing plungers (air vents) installed on pipelines.

fourthly, the relevant authorities are currently conducting a study on the case.