19.09.2024

On September 19, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of proposals in the spheres of environmental protection and tourism.

At present, issues of preserving air purity and reducing the impact of anthropogenic factors on the environment are becoming more and more urgent. In this regard, two programs have been developed.

First - National Program to Combat and Mitigate Dust Storms for 2024-2030. This document envisages a phased complete ban on the sale and use of fuels below the Euro-4 standard. For this purpose, the Bukhara and Fergana refineries will be modernized to produce high quality fuel.

Second - program of measures aimed at improving the quality of atmospheric air in the city of Tashkent, according to which green belts and parks on the area of 441 hectares will be created in the capital and adjacent districts of Tashkent region in the next 5 years.

In order to streamline sanitation work, it is proposed to create an Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development on the basis of the existing center. A rating system of sanitation enterprises will be introduced with their division into three categories depending on their performance indicators.

Introduction of a requirement is envisaged: when designing newly constructed buildings with a height of more than 12 meters or a total area of more than 500 square meters, at least 25 percent of the adjacent territory must be greened. In addition, industrial enterprises that have a significant impact on the environment will be obliged to create green belts.

Attention has been paid to preventing environmental offenses and strengthening public control in this area. In order to encourage proactive citizens it was proposed to establish the honorary title “Honored Ecologist of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

The issue of accession to the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters has been considered.

The expediency of introducing into the Code of Administrative Responsibility an article on non-compliance with the requirements of air protection at construction sites is pointed out. It is also planned to toughen financial penalties of fines for cutting and deliberate drying of trees, illegal extraction of sand and gravel from river beds, waste disposal in unspecified places.

By the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated May 27, 2019, a system of ecological labeling was introduced in the republic. Now, in accordance with the international standard ISO 14024, voluntary ecological labeling of products and services called “Yashil belgi” (“Green Mark”) will be introduced. Sectoral schedules will be approved for the installation of automated monitoring stations, dust and gas purification equipment and local water treatment facilities at 2,336 economic entities.

An unincorporated Green Charity Fund will be established under the Ministry of Ecology, which will be managed under public control. The possibility of voluntary charitable deductions “Green Payment” will be introduced in applications of electronic payment systems.

Another gap in the sphere is the issues of keeping wild animals. The keeping of such animals in households is not legally regulated. In this regard, it is envisaged to determine that wild animals kept by individuals and in circuses and shapitos will be transferred to rehabilitation centers at zoos, oceanariums, kennels and research institutions.

Measures to develop medical tourism were also discussed at the presentation.

To this end, Uzbekistan will be positioned as a “center of attraction” of Central Asia. The program “Hospitality in the sphere of medical services” will be implemented. It is planned to stimulate the activity of medical and recreational institutions and launch their unified register. Sanatoriums with categories similar to hotel “stars” will be set up.

The Head of State gave instructions to thoroughly finalize the drafts of the relevant documents and efficiently organize their implementation.