Uzbekistan to Build Five Floodwater Reservoirs

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan plans to build five floodwater reservoirs between 2027 and 2030 to improve the efficient use of mudflow and floodwaters and enhance irrigation supplies for agricultural land, according to a presidential decree issued on May 25.

According to the document, the project will improve water supply for 7,000 hectares of land in the Samarkand region, 2,000 hectares in the Tashkent region and 300 hectares in the Jizzakh region.

The initiative also предусматривает the development of 3,300 hectares of new land in the Samarkand region and 300 hectares in the Tashkent region, which is expected to support agricultural production growth and create new jobs.

The list of planned facilities includes five floodwater reservoirs:

Tangatopdisay reservoir in the Bakhmal district of the Jizzakh region, with a capacity of 2.4 million cubic meters and a cost of 997 billion soums;

Gijduvansay reservoir in the Urgut district of the Samarkand region, with a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters and a cost of 90 billion soums;

Chashtepasay reservoir in the Urgut district of the Samarkand region, with a capacity of 0.6 million cubic meters and a cost of 65 billion soums;

Aktepasay reservoir in the Koshrabad district of the Samarkand region, with a capacity of 26 million cubic meters and a cost of 365 billion soums;

Aksakatasay reservoir in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region, with a capacity of 7.6 million cubic meters and a cost of 275 billion soums.

Project financing will vary by region. Construction in the Samarkand region will be funded through the state budget, while design work in the Tashkent and Jizzakh regions will be financed by Agrobank, with construction to be carried out under public-private partnership mechanisms.

Upon completion, the facilities will be transferred free of charge to organizations under the Ministry of Water Resources.

The document separately notes that land plots allocated for construction, including quarry and infrastructure sites, will be acquired for state needs with mandatory compensation for damages to individuals and legal entities in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Water Resources has been instructed to ensure that design and survey work is carried out using international best practices and scientific approaches, and that construction complies with modern safety standards.

The decree also provides for the creation of tourism and recreational zones within the protected areas surrounding the facilities. Private partners will be allowed to use these zones for up to 49 years, with the possibility of extension, and will also be permitted to develop fish farming and other activities that do not affect the safety of the infrastructure. Engineering infrastructure for these zones will be financed from the state budget.

The document further calls for the identification of 60 territories suitable for the creation of small reservoirs in cooperation with профильными agencies and scientific institutions. Relevant authorities have been instructed to prepare proposals on economic efficiency and implementation timelines within three months.

The decision comes amid an increase in mudflow incidents in several regions of the country in late May, which caused flooding and damage to infrastructure.