Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 17 March, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference meeting dedicated to improving the country's drinking water supply, heating systems, neighborhood infrastructure, and agricultural development.

The country continues large-scale efforts to enhance the quality of life for its citizens. This year, Uzbekistan plans to construct 1,619 kilometers of water supply networks, 521 kilometers of sewage systems, and build or renovate 162 infrastructure facilities. These measures will provide 715,000 citizens with access to clean drinking water for the first time, connect 135,000 households to sewage systems, and equip 157,000 consumers with modern water meters.

During the President’s recent visit to France, agreements were reached on implementing three major water supply projects in the Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions, with a total value of 340 million euros. The French company Suez will take over the management of drinking water supply systems in Denau, Shurchi, Sariosiyo, and Kumkurgan, increasing centralized water supply coverage in these areas to 90%.

The development of sewage systems plays a crucial role in expanding construction, industry, and services. Despite significant budgetary investments amounting to trillions of soums annually, greater private sector involvement is essential in this field. One local entrepreneur, supported by the Asian Development Bank, is implementing a project to build wastewater treatment plants in Almalyk, Bekabad, Angren, and Chirchik. Another private investor has expressed readiness to manage water supply and sewage systems in two districts of the Andijan region.

The need to expand such partnerships and encourage domestic companies to participate in international tenders was emphasized. In this regard, a decision was made to simplify project implementation procedures in collaboration with international financial institutions. Additionally, instructions were given to accelerate tender processes and complete work worth US$850 million by the end of the year.

Another priority area is the digitalization of the sector. Plans include attracting US$125 million in funding from the Asian Development Bank. Over the next five years, 4,800 smart meters and 2,800 telemetry systems will be installed at major hydraulic facilities and main pipelines. This will not only improve water resource management but also create a significant market for the electrical engineering industry. In this regard, servicing of meters will gradually be transferred to private companies.

Special attention was given to heating systems, one of the most energy-intensive sectors. On 11 March, the President signed a decree launching a large-scale reform aimed at increasing energy efficiency. As part of the reform, a unified company, Issiklik Ta’minoti, was created, consolidating 23 regional heating supply organizations. Over the next five years, 19 trillion soums will be allocated for the restoration and modernization of heating systems, increasing centralized heating coverage from 37% to 58%.

The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services has been tasked with developing an energy efficiency program for apartment buildings and social facilities. In particular, 9,000 residential and social buildings will be switched to a closed-loop heating system, which will halve heat loss and reduce gas consumption by 20%.

The meeting also addressed spring planting issues. Measures were defined to simplify land allocation procedures from the reserve funds of local administrations. A decision was made to abolish the installment-based sale of agricultural land via auctions. Instead, unsold lots will see their price decrease by 10% daily, and in the absence of competition, a single bidder will automatically be declared the winner. Additionally, 10% to 20% of land plots will be designated for growing fodder crops to support livestock farming.

Currently, the activities of over 93,000 farming enterprises are evaluated based on a unified business rating. Moving forward, this rating will be detailed based on specific indicators, such as yield, number of employees, and production volume.

High-rated farmers will receive several benefits: they will no longer be required to insure against loan default risks, their land tax will be reduced threefold, and membership fees to the Farmers’ Council will be halved. Those achieving high yields in cotton and grain production will be permitted to allocate up to 25% of their land for crop rotation, including fodder, vegetable, and leguminous crops.

The meeting also reviewed household farming development and neighborhood improvements as part of the President’s month-long nationwide greening campaign. 125 million tree seedlings are planned for planting this spring. The President stressed the importance of careful site selection and effective irrigation systems. In neighborhoods with limited water access, artificial reservoirs with geomembrane linings will be created.

Last year, a pilot program established service companies in 208 neighborhoods, providing 23 types of services to the population. This year, the project will expand, adding 1,000 new enterprises, with the service range increasing to 30. To improve service quality, 5,000 specialists will be trained based on Chinese expertise, leading to the employment of 15,000 people.

From this year, 208 districts and cities have established specialized road maintenance divisions within local improvement departments.

700 billion soums have been allocated for purchasing additional specialized road repair equipment. Consequently, orders were issued to repair urban roads and enhance energy supply in neighborhoods.

During the meeting, deputy prime ministers, ministers, and regional governors presented detailed reports on their progress and future plans to implement the outlined reforms.