How did Uzbekistan prepare for winter?

Shavkat Mirziyoyev conducted a meeting where environmental issues, winter preparations, and the quality of public utility services were examined in detail, according to the president’s press service.

At the meeting, measures to reduce air pollution and eliminate emission sources were considered. It was noted that the influence of the cold anticyclone has intensified, due to which the temperature decreases, the pressure increases, and the inversion leads to the accumulation of small particles in the ground-level layer. The natural purification of the atmosphere has slowed down.

Inspections of greenhouses, construction sites, vehicles, and facilities with illegal activities continue. Stabilization work is being carried out: moistening of streets, cleaning of irrigation ditches, activation of fountains. Raids and preventive measures have been intensified. The President instructed to extend these measures to all regions and to keep factors affecting air quality under strict control.

Separately, they discussed $933 million worth of projects to generate electricity from household waste, which are being implemented in six regions. In other regions, there is no progress, and already started projects are experiencing infrastructure shortages. Hokimiyats and the National Ecology Committee were instructed to eliminate shortcomings and launch similar projects throughout the country.

By 2030, it is planned to reduce the number of solid household waste landfills by 50%. In recent years, 47 landfills have been closed and reclaimed — 243 hectares of land have been returned to nature. However, most of the still operating 132 landfills remain without fences, green zones, and environmental safety systems.

The President emphasized that landfills should become safe areas focused on meeting the needs of the population. Instructions were given to create “green belts” around them and to involve the reclaimed lands in economic circulation. Starting from 2026, at least 150 billion soums will be allocated annually for these purposes.

The level of processing of industrial and hazardous waste has reached 4.5%, but it is recognized as insufficient. Instructions were given to conduct a complete inventory of such waste, launch one recycling project in each region, and create a unified monitoring system.

The meeting also raised the issue of providing the population with liquefied gas. Cases of embezzlement were revealed. The “Hududgaztaminot” system was instructed to promptly resolve problems on the ground. The task was set to conduct an inventory of worn-out power grids and transformers.

It was noted that 1800 km of networks were poorly repaired — the Prosecutor General’s Office will investigate violations, and the Energy Inspection will switch to an enhanced monitoring mode. The President demanded an uninterrupted supply of energy resources in winter.

Fire safety issues were also touched upon. It is necessary to fully study the condition of more than 44 thousand apartment buildings. It was instructed to develop a draft law that would prohibit the use of flammable materials on facades and bring construction standards in line with international standards.

Measures for the coordination of public utilities and the emergency response system were also discussed. Based on last year’s experience, district working groups will be created, and all communal structures will be integrated into the dispatch system of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Domestic preventive work will also be strengthened.