Illegal Buildings Demolished in Tashkent District

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Demolition of illegally constructed buildings continues in Tashkent district on the territory of the Darhon scientific-experimental farm, the Ecology Committee reported. The works are being carried out jointly with the prosecutor’s office and other state bodies.

The case concerns plots within a 4-hectare park zone that were leased in 2021 by the State Committee for Forestry.

According to the lease agreement, the land was designated for the establishment of greenhouses, cultivation of seedlings, and fish farming.

However, the Committee notes that these areas were subsequently unlawfully transferred to individuals and legal entities. New occupants constructed residential buildings and later formalized ownership rights using mechanisms referred to as a “land amnesty.”

The Ecology Committee emphasized that the emergence of illegal structures became possible due to the loss of cadastral documentation for the Darhon farm, which, according to the agency, resulted from actions or inaction by responsible officials.

At present, the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement is handling 17 enforcement cases against individuals and organizations that unlawfully built on the territory. Eight of these cases have already been completed.

Two structures have been fully demolished, two others partially dismantled, while enforcement actions continue on five more sites with the participation of debtors and their representatives.

Authorities have also conducted a re-inventory of all illegal constructions within the dendrological park. In addition to demolition work, the main objective is to restore the land plots and forest areas to their original condition.

Amid these developments, environmental liability measures have been strengthened. On March 25, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law introducing administrative and criminal liability for the illegal allocation and construction on forest fund land.

Starting from June, such violations will result in fines of up to 41.2 million soums for individuals and up to 82.4 million soums for officials.

In cases of repeated violations, penalties will be significantly increased and may include fines of up to 164.8 million soums, restriction of freedom for up to three years, or imprisonment.

Illegal construction on forest fund lands will carry even stricter sanctions, including fines of up to 206 million soums or imprisonment for a term of three to five years.