Photo: Press Service of the Special Commission for Improving Tashkent’s Environmental Situation
From November 24 to 28, the special commission tasked with improving environmental conditions in Tashkent inspected 1,449 greenhouse operations in the capital and surrounding districts. Following the review, 67 greenhouses were shut down, according to a report published on the commission’s Telegram channel.
Administrative protocols were issued against 403 greenhouse owners, while 19 entrepreneurs received technical specifications for connecting to gas networks.
Construction sites were also subject to inspection. During the reporting period, the commission identified 53 instances of illegal construction and suspended operations at 34 of those sites. Authorities recorded 186 cases of air pollution, held 188 individuals administratively liable, and installed water sprayers at 51 locations.
Inspections of vehicles operating within Tashkent revealed 837 drivers transporting cargo in open trucks. Fines were issued to 206 drivers whose activities caused excessive harm to the atmosphere, though the amount of the penalties was not specified.
The commission also oversaw a number of environmental measures. In the final week of November, 77 streets and 165 public areas were watered, 121 kilometers of irrigation channels were cleared, and 126 fountains were put into operation. Officials documented 54 cases of illegal sand and gravel extraction from rivers in the Tashkent region.
According to the commission, air pollution levels in Tashkent have noticeably decreased. PM2.5 concentrations fell from 171 µg/m³ on November 24 to 97 µg/m³ on November 28.
Even so, the figure remains far above World Health Organization (WHO) standards, which set the daily PM2.5 limit at 15 µg/m³ and the annual average at 5 µg/m³.
Commission representatives noted that a cold anticyclone over Uzbekistan has intensified atmospheric inversion, causing fine particulate matter to accumulate in the air — a phenomenon that slows the atmosphere’s natural cleansing. Environmental specialists expect these conditions to persist until December 5.
In mid-November, prior to the commission’s establishment, authorities found that greenhouses were a major source of air pollution in the capital. Prosecutors participated in raids that temporarily shut down 106 greenhouses and led to administrative penalties for 58 owners.
ℹ️ With the onset of colder weather in Tashkent and the surrounding region, air quality typically worsens, in part due to greenhouses that rely on solid fuel. “Uzhydromet” has urged residents and visitors to limit time outdoors and to wear medical masks when possible.
