Pumping station was built to supply Tor-Kamysh village with irrigation water

The official opening of the irrigation water pumping station took place in Tor-Kamysh village on January 11, 2015.

The official opening of the irrigation water pumping station took place in Tor-Kamysh village (Kara Jygach aiyl aimak, Jalal-Abad region) on January 11, 2015. This project was realized thanks to the efforts of local authorities and residents of Kara-Jygach aiyl aimak with the support of Strengthening Voice and Accountability of Citizens’ Participation and Oversight of Budget Processes in the Kyrgyz Republic Project (VAP), funded by the Government of Switzerland in partnership with the British Department for International Development and implemented by the Development Policy Institute.

Shortage of irrigation water in rainfed allotments and homesteads of 750 residents of Tor-Kamysh village caused a big problem to the local population and they had to buy all the products from the side, since they could not grow and produce crops on their own land without water. At the village meetings in 2014 the residents of the aiyl aimak identified the shortage of irrigation water as a priority issue, however, a new pumping station had to be built and it required certain amount of money that the local government could fully not allocate from the local budget.

In order to find funding, the villager along with local government representatives applied to the Small Grants Program announced by VAP Project. The total cost of the project as described in the application, was 1 273 626 soms, out of which 123 626 soms were allocated from the local budget. Having considered the application, Competition Commission of the Small Grants Program approved the allocation of grant funds in the amount of 1 million. soms for the project.

During project implementation period procurement of goods, works and services was carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic; trainings were conducted for the Aiyl Okmoty employees on the topic of public procurement. However, the beginning of the project works was delayed because the tender for purchase of works had to be advertised three times since the contractors did not meet the requested requirements. As a result of the third tender held by Kara Jygach Aiyl Okmotu "Mega-Prim" LLC was announced to the winner of the tender.

Earthworks, construction of the pumping station and water intake wells for water distribution, laying 410 meter of the pipelines were carried out as a part of project works. Throughout the time, the villagers actively helped in the construction sites. Due to the cold weather, constructors had to use antifreeze; frozen ground was beat off by jackhammers. But despite all challenges, the work was completed and by the beginning of the crop planting season local villagers will have access to irrigation water on 70 hectares of land.