Minister of Environment summoned to Parliament to comment on capital’s air pollution

At the meeting held on January 17, the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis decided to summon the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, to provide information about the work being done to prevent air pollution in Uzbekistan, including the city of Tashkent.

Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber, Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection, Head of the faction of the Ecology Party Khayrullo Gafforov noted that air pollution in the capital has recently become a topic of discussion.

Referring to Uzhydromet data, he reported that the average amount of fine PM2.5 particles in the air in Tashkent in January was 45 μg/m3, which is several times higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization (5 μg/m3). He also reminded that the city of Tashkent has the highest level of air pollution in the world.

According to him, despite the adoption of the Law “On protection of atmospheric air” in 2019, the situation is getting worse. Therefore, it was decided to call the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov to the parliament to report.

Khayrullo Gafforov stated that, in addition to listening to the report, the Legislative Chamber has the right to propose to the president the expediency of the resignation of government members, the prosecution of individuals, and the dismissal of government members.

According to him, the hearing will be conducted in a “serious manner”. Also, at the extended meeting of the faction, a working group was formed, which will listen to the opinions of scientists and study the problem on the spot.