There are 65 hectares of strictly protected area of burial of chemicals in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An open dialogue with media representatives took place at the Agency for Information and Mass Communications on the content and significance of the Law “On ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants”.

The event discussed issues such as improving the environmental situation on the basis of this international act, the elimination of possible negative environmental consequences for the population, the environment, flora and fauna.

“During the Soviet era, chemicals in Uzbekistan were used in agriculture to combat plant diseases and pests,” said Tulegen Abdugaziyev, head of the department of the State Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection. - We still have some of them, although their shelf life has expired, and they are banned for use. These chemicals were especially widely used as defoliants. In rural areas there were airfields for small aircraft, and in their territory - warehouses for chemical storage. When the planes were loaded with chemicals, part of them fell into the soil, as a result of which it was polluted. Unfortunately, our committee cannot control all such territories, but we regularly monitor it. His results show that the level of soil contamination at some aerodromes is currently above normal. ”

Deputy of the Legislative Chamber Khairullo Gaffarov informed those present about the total burial area of toxic substances available in Uzbekistan.

“Persistent organic pollutants are substances that are difficult to destroy and that can accumulate in biological tissues,” said the deputy. “Currently, in addition to airfields, in 13 regions of the country there are concreted burials of toxic chemicals with a total area of 65 hectares.”

According to the representative of the Oliy Majlis, the situation in these areas, water resources, soil conditions are regularly monitored by the Republican Center for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance and the State Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection.

“So far, no adverse effects of toxic substances on the environment have been reported,” said Khairullo Gaffarov. “That is, there were no cases of exceeding the permissible concentration level.”

The journalists noted that these territories are of strategic importance from the point of view of human health and environmental safety, in connection with which they asked how well they are protected?

“These special objects belong to the joint-stock company Uzagrokimiyo and are protected without fail,” said Tulegen Abdugaziev, the head of the department of the State Committee for Nature Protection.