Large-Scale Reservoir to Be Built in Kaspi
Georgia is to have the largest reservoir built since the 1950s, to be located in Kaspi Municipality, Central Georgia, on the River Tedzami.
The Tedzami Reservoir will provide drinking water to 5 villages, water to 22, and a Hydro-electric Power Plant is to be built on the dam.
The Georgian Prime Minister’s Press Office reports that the project has a minimal impact on the environment.
Works will launch this year and be completed within 47 months.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, opened the Tedzami Reservoir project, stating that it is “a historic project,” and adding the empowerment of Georgia's villages is the main goal.
“Stronger Georgian villages mean stronger Georgian regions, and stronger Georgian regions define a stronger Georgia. The development of Georgia's villages has been one of our top priorities. Agricultural development requires strong irrigation systems. No such reservoirs have been built in Georgia in the past 50 years,” said Bakhtadze.
He added that in 2012, Georgia's irrigation systems covered only 40,000 hectares and within the past six years, they have been increased to 110,000 hectares.
The PM explained that the Tedzami River Reservoir will serve nearly 10,000 citizens and irrigate 7,000 hectares of land, which to date was almost abandoned.
"It is a truly unique project that will breathe new life into Shida Kartli, namely the Kaspi region. Water and its resources are Georgia’s wealth. Accordingly, tapping into water resources is of vital importance for the success of our national economy," the PM noted.
“Such projects will significantly improve the social and economic conditions of households involved in agriculture, while also helping us to ensure inclusive growth in Georgia, to achieve a type of growth that will impact every Georgian family. Overcoming the most painful challenge of poverty is the key priority of our economy,” the PM said.
He added that the construction of the reservoir offers an opportunity to implement systemic and consistent infrastructural and agricultural projects, and to turn the reservoir's surrounding area into a tourist destination, which will be an additional advantage of the project.
“I am convinced that such projects stand for a strong country, a strong Georgia and enable us to achieve progress in the regions,” Bakhtadze noted.
GEL 71 million will be invested in the Tedzami Reservoir project and it will employ 500 locals from the municipality.
By Thea Morrison
Image source: PM’s Press Office