Minister for Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov informed that the Government of the Republic is going to announce a moratorium on construction of new cement plants. He made this statement in his speech at the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on January 30, Gazeta.uz reported.
Abdukhakimov emphasised that some of these plants are being built in mountainous areas, which, in his opinion, could develop in other directions, including eco-tourism. The Minister said these enterprises cause serious damage to the environment.
The politician noted that he had visited Zafarabad district in Jizzakh Region to conduct condition assessment and was dissatisfied with what he had seen. He said the land was covered with a thick layer of dust and other polluting waste at a distance of 5 or even 10 kilometres from the plants. Abdukhakimov emphasised that not only people, but also plants and animals suffer from pollution. He stated that the Government intends to introduce fines of up to 10 billion soums for the lack of modern dust and gas emission control equipment.
