With the onset of cold weather, the air quality in Tashkent and its surroundings is significantly deteriorating due to the operation of greenhouse farms located both within the city and beyond. In response, special groups have been formed to conduct raids and identify environmental violations, according to information from the press service of the hokimiyat. Local authorities report that representatives of the city administration, as well as employees from environmental and sanitary services, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are participating in the inspections. The working group is led by representatives of the Republic's Prosecutor General's Office.
The hokimiyat reminded that similar activities were carried out last year, during which the illegal operations of several greenhouse farms located in Tashkent were halted.
The Uzbekistan Hydrometeorological Service ("Uzhydromet") reported a sharp deterioration in the environmental situation in the capital. According to data from automatic air pollution monitoring stations on the morning of November 11, the level of fine particulate matter PM2.5 was 143 µg/m³, which is 2.4 times higher than the permissible norm.
In this regard, the agency strongly recommends that residents and guests of Tashkent limit their time outdoors and, if possible, use medical masks when going outside.
Additionally, environmental issues were discussed at a meeting chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on November 11. During the meeting, proposals for improving management in this area were considered.
In particular, an initiative was proposed to concentrate financial and managerial efforts on projects aimed at improving the state of the environment and atmospheric air, expanding green spaces, developing ecological culture, and preserving natural heritage within a unified management system. The need for transparent and targeted use of resources was discussed.
Officials also presented plans to strengthen control and expand the powers of relevant structures, discussing mechanisms for rapid response to prevent illegal logging and air pollution. Issues of actively involving the public in environmental oversight and improving environmental regulation in industry, as well as preserving green spaces in populated areas, were raised.
President Mirziyoyev approved the proposed measures and instructed to refine them to enhance the quality and effectiveness of management, as well as to strengthen control and accountability in this area.
