The key facts

  • In Tashkent's Uchtepa district, 4 trees (3 Chinese elms and 1 mulberry) were cut down without permission during the construction of an artificial lake
  • The damage is estimated at 27 million 280 thousand soums; an administrative protocol is being drawn up under Article 79 of the Administrative Liability Code
  • The Ecology Department: construction began without a positive state environmental expertise conclusion; the khokimiyat had previously promised to preserve the trees

What the ecology department found

On October 14, the Main Department of Ecology and Climate Change of the city of Tashkente reported that it had inspected social media reports about tree felling on a plot between preschool educational institution No. 340 and building 52 on the 11th massif of the Kurgantepa mahalla in the Uchtepa district. The initial inspection showed that employees of the district's improvement department, without any permits, cut down at the root three Chinese elm trees and one mulberry tree — four trees in total. Under Article 37 of the law 'On the Protection and Use of the Plant World,' the damage to the plant world is estimated at 27 million 280 thousand soums. Under Article 79 of the Administrative Liability Code (illegal felling, damage or destruction of trees, shrubs and other plants), an administrative protocol is being drawn up.

Remarks on the construction

The ecology department also reported that, according to the requirements of a government resolution of Uzbekistan dated May 11, 2026, construction work was started without obtaining a positive conclusion of the state environmental expertise. The territory has been taken under the control of the Uchtepa district department.

The khokimiyat's position

Earlier, on October 11, the khokimiyat of the Uchtepa district officially commented on the construction. According to its data, an artificial lake is being built on a plot of 0.8 hectares between kindergarten No. 340 and the 15th apartment building. As part of the project, according to the khokimiyat, the existing trees were to be preserved and additional ornamental trees planted. The goals of the work were named as creating a green zone for residents, landscaping and improving the aesthetic appearance of the territory.

Context of the artificial lakes program

In April, at a meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered an increase in the number of artificial lakes planned for construction in Tashkent from four to twelve to improve the microclimate and air quality. The lakes are planned to be built in 12 districts of the capital, with fountains, recreation areas and green zones around them. It was also previously reported about tree felling during the construction of an artificial lake in the Tashkent Botanical Garden: the garden's chief dendrologist Atirgul Kholmirzayeva stated that there was no unauthorized felling, and the Academy of Sciences reported that there were no trees or shrubs of the garden's scientific collection on the reservoir plot.