DUSHANBE (RFE/RL) -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon says the construction of dams on rivers in Tajikistan will not damage the environment, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.
Rahmon said that concerns expressed by Uzbek officials regarding damage to the environment as a result of the construction of the dams in southern Tajikistan are groundless.
Uzbek officials have complained that dam construction along the transborder rivers in the region might cause environmental problems.
The issues of water and energy are major unsolved issues between Central Asian countries.
Several major rivers originate in Tajikistan's mountains and need to be harnessed to fulfill some of the country's urgent energy needs.
Rahmon said that concerns expressed by Uzbek officials regarding damage to the environment as a result of the construction of the dams in southern Tajikistan are groundless.
Uzbek officials have complained that dam construction along the transborder rivers in the region might cause environmental problems.
The issues of water and energy are major unsolved issues between Central Asian countries.
Several major rivers originate in Tajikistan's mountains and need to be harnessed to fulfill some of the country's urgent energy needs.