Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the shortcomings made during preparations for the winter season, as well as issues of ensuring food security, were critically analyzed.

In particular, the facts of illegal use of natural gas and coal were noted. For example, at a brick factory in Mubarek district, 4.3 million cubic meters of gas were stolen by unauthorized connection to an underground gas pipeline. This is the volume of gas supply to 8,000 households.

In addition, this year, as a result of the installation of modern meters at large gas supply nodes in 74 districts, the theft of 7 million cubic meters of natural gas by more than 2 thousand wholesale consumers was revealed.

Taking this into account, it was proposed to toughen the responsibility for the illegal use of energy resources.

- How are we going to spend winter this year? All leaders today must have an answer to this question. Indeed, there are a lot of problems. The result will be if we deeply study and solve them in the context of makhallas, the President noted.

Measures have been determined to repair 153 boiler houses and 2 thousand 802 kilometers of heat supply networks.

The head of state touched upon incidents related to carbon monoxide and outbreaks. It was instructed to critically study and radically reform the activities of the Fire Safety Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, to strengthen fire prevention.

The Deputy Prime Minister was instructed to fully utilize the existing opportunities, to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the population and the economy, to conduct the winter season without losses.

At the video conference, another topical issue was comprehensively considered - uninterrupted food supplies.

The overstatement of food prices was sharply criticized, and a number of instructions were given to prevent such cases.

The dynamics of prices for basic food products by region is considered. Areas and districts where prices have risen in recent months are indicated.

Responsible departments have been instructed to create headquarters in each region and toughly suppress price speculation. An interdepartmental working group will be formed to analyze daily turnover, prices for basic food products in the domestic and foreign markets, current needs and demand.

Taking into account the growing demand on the eve of the New Year, the importance of saturating the market with products, organizing fairs in dekhkan markets and in large shopping malls, supplying and selling goods at them at reduced prices was noted.

It is predicted that prices in the global food market will fluctuate sharply. Therefore, a special fund was created and US$50 million was allocated for guaranteed supplies of basic types of products to the domestic market.

Responsible persons were instructed to form at the expense of these funds, first of all, vegetable oil and other basic products for at least 3 months. Similar measures will be taken through the funds created under the khokimiyats.

The Prime Minister was instructed to coordinate all work to ensure food security, to conduct interventions to purchase necessary food products based on an analysis of the internal market, while supporting entrepreneurs.