Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 8 February, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on improving drinking water supply in the regions.

This issue is a priority in all social programs. Over the past five years, 10 trillion soums have been allocated for this direction, or 5 times more funds than in previous years. During this period, 6.5 million people received access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time.

In particular, in 2021, 474 facilities were built and about 6.3 thousand kilometers of water supply networks were laid. Improved water supply for more than 2 million residents of 592 mahallas.

However, unresolved issues remain in the area. Thus, the level of drinking water supply in Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and Jizzakh regions is less than 60 percent. In Guzar, Dekhkanabad, Kasan, Sherabad, Angor, Gallyaaral and Khatyrcha regions, this figure is below 30 percent.

Therefore, in the next five years, it is planned to invest 40 trillion soums in the sphere, to increase the provision of drinking water to 90 percent, and the coverage of sewerage to 35 percent. This year, 2 trillion soums from the budget will be allocated for these purposes and US$245 million will be attracted.

The head of state stressed that the main attention will be paid to areas with a low level and quality of water supply.

Thus, in 1,545 mahallas there is no centralized water supply system. Responsible persons are instructed to study the possibilities available to them and take measures to organize their water supply in one of the following three ways. Firstly, in mahallas with the necessary infrastructure, centralized water supply can be established. The second way is the construction of wells where there are underground fresh water reserves. Third - in villages where there is no possibility of building wells and laying networks, it is possible to build large-capacity reservoirs that will be filled with imported water.

Measures have been identified to involve the private sector in these works. For the construction of water facilities, the purchase of special machinery and equipment, entrepreneurs will receive subsidies to cover the cost of loans in the part exceeding 14 percent of the rate. Customs duties on imported equipment and machinery will be abolished. The rate of income, property, land and social tax for water supply enterprises with the participation of the private sector will be set at 1 percent. The amount of payment for private water supply services in mahallas will be determined in agreement with local councils.

Based on this, the task was set to simplify the procedure for placing social orders, selecting private partners and financing projects.

It was instructed to develop a separate program for Kashkadarya region, where the indicator of drinking water supply - 42 percent - is the lowest in the republic.

The necessity of providing drinking water to 2,000 kindergartens, schools and medical institutions in the next two years was emphasized, sources of funding for this work were identified.

As you know, projects in this area are mainly developed by engineering companies of the joint-stock company "Uzsuvtaminot". Now, to intensify work, engineering companies in the regions will be transferred to the jurisdiction of regional khokimiyats. The development of design estimates, the identification of contractors and the opening of financing will also be carried out in the regions. The Ministry of Housing and Communal Services and the joint-stock company Uzsuvtaminot will determine the technical requirements for projects, conduct an examination and be responsible for the operation of the facilities.

The meeting touched upon the protection of rivers and underground water resources.

Of the 8 thousand wells operating today, 1.5 thousand are in a worn-out condition. As a result, the water supply of 2 million inhabitants in almost 800 mahallas has deteriorated. The groundwater level in these settlements has dropped to 30 meters from the surface as a result of drilling wells in the fields in the Zaamin, Nurata and Kushrabat regions, uncontrolled and indiscriminate extraction of sand and gravel from Zaravshan and Chirchik rivers.

In this regard, it was determined that from now on, the identification and drilling of water wells will be carried out only by the State Committee for Geology. Responsible departments were instructed to conduct an inventory of wells and establish strict order on the banks of the rivers.

An urgent issue is also the improvement of the system of exploitation in the regions. In many areas there is no special equipment.

In this regard, the importance of expanding the capabilities of district water supply organizations is indicated. Thus, the authority to determine the list of paid services and the funds received from them will be transferred to district water supply organizations. A system will be introduced to allocate funds from district and city budgets to local enterprises "Suvtaminot" for the repair of drinking water networks, the elimination of accidents and the purchase of special equipment.

Instructions were given to expand sewerage networks in 28 large and medium-sized cities, including Bukhara, Jizzakh, Gulistan, Shirin and Yangiyer. The need for the construction of local treatment facilities on the massifs of "Yangi Uzbekiston" was indicated.

Responsible persons of the sphere and khokims presented information on the issues discussed at the meeting.