Special Commission Suspends Operations of Over 100 Facilities Polluting Tashkent’s Air

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Working groups established by the Special Commission for Monitoring Atmospheric Air Quality are systematically conducting inspections in Tashkent and its surrounding areas. Their objective is to halt the operations of facilities that negatively affect the environment. According to Aziza Uzakbergenova, head of the department at the Eco-Media Center under the Ecology Committee, inspections took place from 24 to 28 November.

During checks of greenhouse farms, 1,449 facilities were inspected. Operations of 67 greenhouses were suspended, and administrative protocols were issued against 403 individuals. Nineteen farms received technical conditions from Hududgazta’minot JSC for connection to gas networks.

At construction sites in the capital, 53 illegal construction areas totaling 6.3 hectares were identified, and measures are being taken to eliminate them. Air pollution violations were recorded in 186 cases, and 25% of the 235 inspected sites lacked greenery. Construction work at 34 sites was temporarily halted, and 188 individuals were held administratively liable. Water sprayers were installed at 51 sites to reduce dust.

Among traffic-related violations, 837 truck drivers transporting cargo without tarpaulins and 206 drivers whose vehicles exceeded permissible emission levels were penalized.

Parallel activities were carried out to stabilize the local microclimate: irrigation and humidification covered 77 streets and 165 public areas with a total length of 496 km. Irrigation canals stretching 322 km, supplied by 45 channels, were cleaned, and 126 fountains were activated.

In Tashkent region, 54 cases of illegal extraction of sand and gravel from riverbeds and irrigation channels were identified, and work is underway to hold all violators accountable.

As a result of the measures taken, air pollution levels in Tashkent decreased: the average concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5, which reached 171 µg/m³ on 24 November at 18:00, gradually declined to 152 µg/m³ on 25 November, 140 µg/m³ on 26 November, 111 µg/m³ on 27 November, and 97 µg/m³ on 28 November.

According to the forecast of the Hydrometeorological Service Agency under the National Ecology Committee, starting from 29 November a strengthening cold anticyclone is expected to persist until 5 December. This may temporarily intensify inversion processes and lead to a short-term increase in air pollution levels.