Although almost a year has passed since the launch of the Oguz-Gabala-Baku water pipeline, built to meet drinking water demands in the capital, transparent information on the project and expenditure is still unavailable. The complaints and disappointment on the part of the population have not diminished. In the regions through which the pipeline travels, many citizens report that their property rights were violated during the construction work, and their losses have not been compensated.

The pipeline extends through 8 regions of the country, Oguz, Gebele, Goychay, Ismayilli, Agsu, Shamaxi, Hadjigabul, and Absheron. The Oilmen’s Rights Defence Committee, which has monitored the project for several years, believes that there are hundreds of citizens who have not received compensation.

Azer Guliyev, the Committee's lawyer, reported that 547.4 million USD was allocated to the project and the “Azersu” Joint-Stock Company managed the project implementation and all of the contracting. However, despite the amount of money attached to the project, the citizens still haven’t been paid their promised compensation. At the initiative of the Oilmen’s Rights Defense Committee, Objective TV met with disappointed Oguz and Gabala residents to investigate the affair.

Bayram Vazirov, resident of Charkhana village of the Gabala region, says that the pipeline passes through his land. Though 4700 square meters of his land area was covered by the pipeline, he has not paid anything in compensation. Earlier he was told that he would receive land in a different place, but the promise hasn’t come true.

Vidadi Rafiyev, resident of Shamli village of Gabala region, says that he has been deprived of his hazelnut income, as his orchard fell into the construction area.

Unable to get compensation, Rafiyev lodged a lawsuit with Yasamal District Court agaisnt the Azarsu Joint Stock Company. Rafiyev’s defender Azar Guliyev says that the court partially fulfilled their demands.

Maharram Mustafaoglu, resident of Mamayli village of the Gabala region, says that he too, has not received compensation for his lands which were appropriated for the pipeline project. His remaining land was taken away as a result of construction relating to the airport, leaving him completely without farmland.

Sadri Suleymanov, 79, of Bayan village of Oguz region, said tha the taking of his land without compensation was violation of his property right. Court proceedings are underway in Yasamal District Court now.

Fikrat Shirinov, of the same village, faced similar problems and Elkhan Jumayaddinov, resident of Oguz city, went to court, also to gain compensation for appropriated property.

Shovkat Babayev, also a resident of the city, says that he was deprived of his income from hazelnut lands due to the pipeline project