In Tashkent's Uchtepa district, four trees were illegally cut down during the construction of an artificial lake, causing 27 million soums in damage to nature.

In the Uchtepa district of Tashkent, 4 trees were cut down without permission during the construction of an artificial lake, causing 27 million sum in damage to nature

In the Uchtepa district of Tashkent city, it was revealed that 4 trees were cut down without authorization in connection with the construction of an artificial reservoir.

The khokimiyat had previously stated that it was planned to preserve existing trees as part of the project.

On October 14, the Main Department of Ecology and Climate Change of Tashkent city announced that it conducted an investigation regarding social media reports about trees being cut down due to the construction of an artificial reservoir between building No. 52, 11th block, Kurgantepa neighborhood, Uchtepa district, and preschool education organization No. 340.

The initial inspection established that employees of the Uchtepa District Beautification Department chopped down at the root a total of 4 trees — 3 Ailanthus trees and 1 Ash tree — without any authorization. According to Article 37 of Uzbekistan's Law "On the Protection and Use of Flora," the damage caused to the flora was assessed at 27 million 280 thousand sum.

In connection with this situation, an administrative protocol is being drawn up based on Article 79 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (Illegal cutting, uprooting, damaging, destroying, or transplanting of trees, shrubs, other plants, and seedlings).

Additionally, the Main Department of Ecology stated that construction work had begun without obtaining a positive conclusion from the state ecological expertise, in accordance with the requirements of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan dated May 11, 2022. Currently, this area has been taken under the control of the Uchtepa district department of the main department.

According to the khokimiyat, work is underway to build an artificial lake on a 0.8-hectare plot of land between state preschool education organization No. 340 and multi-story building No. 15 in the Kurgantepa neighborhood. It was stated that as part of the project, it was planned to preserve the existing trees and plant additional ornamental trees.

The khokimiyat indicated that the purpose of the beautification work is to create a green area for the population, green the environment, and improve the aesthetic appearance of the district.

It should be recalled that at an April meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued instructions to increase the number of artificial lakes planned for construction in Tashkent from four to 12 in order to improve the microclimate and air quality.

The artificial lakes are planned to be created in 12 districts of the capital, with fountains, recreation zones, and green areas organized around them.

The park's chief dendrologist, Atirgul Kholmirzayeva, previously stated that trees were not being cut down arbitrarily during the construction process, while the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan stated that there were no trees and shrubs belonging to the park's scientific collection in the area where the reservoir is being built.