Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has approved a procedure for imposing financial penalties on legal entities that violate water extraction rules for agriculture, fisheries, industry, energy and household needs.
The regulation was approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 585 dated 21 October 2026.
Violations include extracting water beyond established limits, taking water without a contract or a permit for special water use, failing to install water flow regulation and metering equipment at extraction points, and extracting water without authorisation.
From 1 January 2027, legal entities committing a first violation during a calendar year will receive a warning, provided the offence has not caused harm to people's lives or health or damaged other people's property.
The Inspectorate will issue warnings and compliance orders through the electronic platform suvnazorat.uz. If the violation is not remedied within 10 days, the organisation will face a financial penalty.
The penalty is calculated for every 1,000 cubic metres of water extracted, based on the basic calculation amount and percentage rates established under Article 164 of the Water Code. If the same violation is repeated within one year after a penalty has been imposed, the penalty amount will increase fivefold.
The regulation provides several options for voluntary payment. A legal entity that pays 50% of the penalty within one month of receiving the decision and penalty calculation will be exempt from paying the remainder.
Alternatively, the penalty may be paid in instalments over a period of up to six months. The initial payment must be made within one month, and monthly instalments must amount to at least one-sixth of the total penalty. This arrangement applies automatically if the prescribed conditions are met.
If the penalty is paid voluntarily, the legal enforcement measure is considered not to have been applied.
If the amount is not paid voluntarily within one month, the Inspectorate will file a claim with the court. If the penalty is challenged, its enforcement and the relevant time limit will be suspended until the complaint has been considered.
If a court finds that the recovery of the penalty was unlawful or unjustified, the money paid must be refunded within 15 days.
For each calendar day that the refund is overdue, interest will accrue at a rate of one three-hundredth of the Central Bank's key rate.
