Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - At a plenary meeting of the Senate, the results of a parliamentary request sent to the Cabinet of Ministers on the impact on the environment and public health of problems and shortcomings at sewage treatment plants were considered.

It was noted that for the development of the sphere, loans from international financial institutions in the amount of US$1.09 billion were attracted and 9 projects are being implemented, within the framework of which work is underway at 19 facilities to build 1,780 km of water supply networks, increase the capacity of facilities by 1 million 82 thousand meters. As a result, the quality of services provided to 1 million 588 thousand residents will increase. At the expense of the republican budget in the amount of 349.1 billion soums, 23 projects are being implemented, within the framework of which 247.8 km of water supply networks have been laid at 7 objects.

For the first time in the city of Tashkent, a pilot project has been implemented to prevent the release into the atmosphere of a part of ground and groundwater, as well as wastewater, which have undergone evaporation in the process of wastewater treatment. More than 36 thousand tons of chemical reagents have been used for the complete disinfection of wastewater in the republic.

In addition, the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection has organized monitoring of sources of pollution of water resources. Also, on a quarterly basis, control and analytical work is carried out at the sources of pollution of enterprises for wastewater treatment.

To date, the composition of wastewater from 3,700 enterprises producing hazardous wastewater has been analyzed in laboratory conditions. Of these, 3,100 have been established compensation payments for the discharge of excess volumes of hazardous wastewater.

Large industrial enterprises of the republic that do not have primary sewerage facilities and have an extremely high level of harmfulness have been disconnected from the network. In particular, work has been temporarily suspended at 18 large industrial enterprises in Tashkent, and primary treatment facilities have been built at 3 enterprises.

However, despite the work done, on some problematic issues raised in the parliamentary inquiry, it is necessary to take additional measures. So, it is advisable to master the funds attracted by international financial institutions and foreign government financial organizations for the repair of treatment facilities and the modernization of wastewater systems, develop, agree and approve project documentation. Wastewater treatment facilities were not built and put into operation on time.

The system of accounting for discharges into wastewater facilities in excess of the norm has not been established at the proper level. Insufficient measures have been taken in relation to the activities of large industrial enterprises that do not have local treatment facilities. As a result, the discharge of contaminated wastewater in excess of the established norm to facilities in the regions made their equipment unusable. Therefore, the wastewater collected at the facilities in the Kashkadarya, Khorezm, Andijan regions is discharged into the outdoor pool without treatment.

Also, laboratories monitoring the content of pollutants in wastewater are not provided with the necessary measuring instruments and chemical reagents.

In addition, due to the fact that the load on water treatment facilities exceeds their capacity, groundwater and groundwater are polluted, and wastewater is discharged into the atmosphere, which negatively affects the health of the local population of Kashkadarya, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions, which are located in close proximity to objects. Also, the laboratories lack leading specialists and qualified personnel in such matters as determining the composition of wastewater, receiving it in moderate quantities, and applying foreign experience.

At the meeting, the senators noted the insufficient level of work carried out by the relevant ministries and departments for the development of the industry, and gave instructions to the Cabinet of Ministers and relevant ministries and departments.

A corresponding resolution of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis was adopted on this issue.