The report also said that the heads of several districts were relieved of their posts for "grave mistakes and shortcomings in their work". He also criticized them for poor performance in developing the agricultural and social sectors.

Corruption cases

The president paid special attention to the fact that construction of some social facilities were delayed in the review period [first 11 months of 2008]. For example, the construction of a vocational school in Tashkent Region’s Kokterak village, as well as of a number of educational establishments in the town of Olmaliq and in the districts of Boka, Parkent and Pskent was completed after the intervention of superior organizations.

Analyses show that bids to construct facilities were not monitored by the governor, instead he let the situation develop as it might. As a result, some corrupt people tried to take advantage of this, the head of state said. Specifically, there were facts that the former head of region’s engineering monopoly, Rashidov, used to grant the right to construct to his own people or to companies he was interested in. Or another case, when the head of regional heating state company, Saidov; and the director of the Harakat private company, Qorqonboyev; were in criminal collusion and inflicted 254 million soums [about US$190,000] damage on the state by embezzling state budget funds allocated for the reconstruction of social facilities. The law-enforcement agencies uncovered these kinds of crimes, and the criminals were brought to account.

Business development slow

Moreover, the president focused on issue related to developing small business.

President Islam Karimov said to put it simply, in the past period, all of us clearly understood [importance of developing business]. However, in the case of Tashkent Region, one finds himself in a puzzled situation. When the situation regarding the development of small business was studied in seven districts and towns in the first half of 2008, there were over 2,500 breaches of regulations. This shows the real situation in the region. The development pace is low.

What are the reasons behind this? What is to blame for this? Why do many districts in the region, which have advantage over other regions [in terms of the infrastructure], live on a subsidy? Five districts and villages in Tashkent Region live on a subsidy. The district heads are present at the session. I demand that they report on the issues during a Cabinet session.

Farmlands embezzled

President Islam Karimov said unfortunately, Tashkent Region is careless about farming. As in most cases, land is given not to professional farmers but to occasional people, who have nothing to do with farming and to those who think only about their own benefit. We should look for answers to questions right here. The saddest thing is that land, which can feed all of us, is being embezzled.

Analyses show that 21 ha of productive farmlands were illegally distributed for the construction of residential buildings in Yangiyol District. To hide the breach of the law, the land plots were illegally registered under the name of new farms, the president said. The regional heads behaved just as an onlooker or as if they had no idea about what was going on there. Only after the intervention of superior organizations, the violation was detected and the district head, Fayziyev, was relieved of his post, and a criminal case was opened against him. Another case, the head of Qibray District, Ikromov, violated the law and gave away 1.2 ha of a fruit garden for the construction of residential buildings. In addition to this, investigations conducted in the district established that 13 ha of fruit gardens located in six farms were destroyed and used for various purposes. Relevant agencies are now taking measures to stop such kinds of violations, the head of state said.

The head of Tashkent District, Temirov, illegally allocated 10 ha of land, which belonged to the scientific research institute for developing potato and vegetables growing, for the construction of residential buildings there. Some persons living in the area illegally constructed residential buildings on 1.2 ha of irrigated land in the Koksaroy village. However, the district heads did not do anything to return the land plot to the state. The former head of Ohangaron District, Ibrohimov, illegally allocated 10 ha of sand-pit, where the construction of a plant was planned, to the Aviasanoat Industria foreign company. The head of a commission for turning the Olmaliq auxiliary farmlands into private farms in the same district, Ochilov, received US$900 as a bribe from a citizen, Badalov, for allocating a land plot. There were facts that attempts to embezzle land were in the peak there, the president said.

President Islam Karimov noted “Looking at your eyes, I would like to tell you one thing - we will never forgive such people. You should learn this for yourselves. Land of Tashkent Region is a paradise. If everyone starts embezzling it, how we will feed the population and on what can we live in future?”

Social sector criticized

Continuing his speech, the president criticized the social sector in Tashkent Region. He noted that there were a number of problems in meeting daily needs of over 2.5 million people living in the region. There was no proper monitoring over the activities of the regional heating state company. Therefore, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. However, the governor of the region neither thought it over nor took measures to help the company financially recover, but issued a resolution to liquidate it. The company’s tasks were handed over to the boiling houses in towns and districts.

President Islam Karimov said: “Why did he do so? Has he ever thought about the following: if people are not provided with heat during winter, how they will pay for utility services? He faced a problem, and solved it simply by liquidating it. Will he be held accountable for this? Who should we ask? How can one justify this kind of short-sightedness and negligence?”

Debts for utilities are about 100 billion soums (about US$70m), which is a 45 billion soums increase on the year beginning; over 70,000 people are unemployed in the region]

Acknowledging grave mistakes and shortcomings in their work in the review period, the mayor of Olmaliq District, Zokirov; the governor of Parkent District, Azamatov; the governor of Ortachirchiq District, Tillaboyev; and the governor of Yuqorichirchiq District, Gafforov; were relieved of their posts.

President urged giving greater opportunities to young people; the acting governor of Tashkent Region, Ziyovuddin Niyozov, was relieved of his post; Rustam Kholmatov was appointed the governor of Tashkent Region.