In Uzbekistan, the Decree on a permanent ban on the extraction of non-metallic minerals in the riverbeds of the Naryn, Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Sangzor, Chirchik and Zarafshan Rivers was approved. President of the Republic Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Decree on January 17, Fergana reported.
The document introduces a ban on the extraction of sand and gravel in the beds of the mentioned rivers and coastal zones.
However, mineral rights can be bought on the special trading platform E-Auksion. The Government will set the boundaries of the areas to which the ban will apply.
The Decree provides for a tenfold increase in the penalties for violating the moratorium to compensate for environmental damage. In accordance with the document, these measures are necessitated by a sharp depletion of water resources and destruction of river banks.
