Project for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

With funding from USAID, the Municipal Development Fund will improve the quality and supply of drinking water in nine IDP settlements, while rehabilitation works on stormwater drainage systems will commence in seven villages.

Under the agreement signed today, within the framework of the “Municipal Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities and Support for Internally Displaced Persons Project,” the Municipal Development Fund is launching stormwater drainage rehabilitation and construction works, as well as drinking water improvement projects, in IDP settlements across the Shida Kartli region.

As part of the project, stormwater drainage channels will be rehabilitated and constructed in seven IDP villages in Shida Kartli: Khurvaleti, Skra, Karaleti, Akhalsopeli, Teliani, Tsilkani, and Prezeti.

Upon completion, the project will rehabilitate the stormwater drainage network and protect 1,559 IDP families — approximately 5,500 internally displaced persons in total — from flooding risks across the seven villages.

In addition, drinking water systems will be improved in nine villages in Shida Kartli: Berbuki, Khurvaleti, Skra, Shavshvebi, Karaleti, Akhalsopeli, Mokhisi, Metekhi, and Tsilkani.

As a result of the project, the quality and reliability of drinking water supply will be improved for 1,609 internally displaced families across nine villages.

The construction contract for the rehabilitation and construction of stormwater drainage channels, as well as the drinking water improvement project in IDP settlements in the Shida Kartli region, was signed by the Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund, Elguja Khokrishvili, and the Director of the tender-winning company Java, Giorgi Javakhadze.

According to Javakhadze, construction works will commence within one week, and local residents will be employed throughout the implementation process. Consequently, in addition to improving living conditions, the project will create employment opportunities for internally displaced persons in 14 villages over a six-month period.

The project is being implemented through a grant provided by the USAID, with a total project value of GEL 2,480,976.54.

Under the project, construction works will primarily focus on the modernization and upgrading of existing water supply systems. The scope of works includes partial rehabilitation of existing pipelines and network nodes, replacement of existing pumps with higher-capacity units, installation of automated control systems, rehabilitation and installation of disinfection equipment, and rehabilitation of electrical systems.

In addition, water supply to Akhalsopeli will be provided from the existing pumping station in Agara through the installation of a new pump and a new pressurized pipeline. For Shavshvebi, the project envisages construction of a new 100-meter-deep borehole and installation of a new pressurized pipeline.

The project is scheduled to commence in May 2013 and be completed in October 2013.