President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed a decree on March 11 to amend his January decree imposing an indefinite moratorium on the extraction of non-metallic materials in the riverbeds of six rivers. The Ministry of Justice reported this development.
Originally planned for the rivers Chirchik, Sangzor, Zarafshan, Narin, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya, the moratorium now includes the Syrdarya river.
The moratorium prohibits the extraction of sand and gravel materials in the riverbeds of the mentioned rivers, their riparian zones, and water protection areas. During the moratorium, fines for damages are increased tenfold and are directed to the Environmental Fund.
The damaged lands are set to be gradually rehabilitated and the natural landscape restored.
