The key facts

  • Air quality in Tashkent as of 22:00 on October 28 was rated “unhealthy”
  • 30 construction companies received warnings; 7 thermal power plants and 131 enterprises are required to cut emissions by half
  • Vulnerable groups are advised to limit time outdoors and wear masks

The air situation and its causes

Air quality monitoring continues in the capital: as of 22:00 on October 28, the air in Tashkent was rated as “unhealthy.” Experts attributed this to a strong temperature inversion that formed overnight, dry air, and the absence of precipitation; weak winds also contributed to the accumulation of local emissions in the city’s atmosphere, reports Zamon.uz.

Measures taken

To improve the situation, the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, regional khokimiyats, and the Tashkent city administration have been instructed to clear sand and dust from main streets and roadsides, and to ensure that existing fountains are operating. Thirty large construction companies have been issued warnings about the need to reduce the spread of dust and sand particles in the air. Seven thermal power plants in Tashkent and its vicinity, as well as 131 large businesses that affect the environment, have been required to cut emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere by half. A special mobile laboratory is monitoring the enterprises, tracking emission volumes.

Recommendations for residents

During the period of poor air quality, specialists have recommended that children, the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, avoid spending long periods outdoors, limit physical activity, and use protective masks.