Translated with AI
In the capital of Uzbekistan, a special task force has begun returning playgrounds and green spaces previously illegally occupied by development to public use, Gazeta.uz reports, citing a report from the Uzbekistan 24 television channel.
The working group was established at the direction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It included representatives from the Prosecutor General's Office, the Uzbekcosmos Agency, the Cadastral Agency, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities, the Ministry of Justice, and other agencies.
According to officials, specialists are analyzing archival satellite images from 2018–2019 and comparing them with current images. This identifies areas that previously housed playgrounds or sports fields but were subsequently transferred to developers.
Specifically, 56 cases of illegal use of public lands were identified in the Mirzo-Ulugbek district of the capital. The first plot, measuring 27 acres, has already been returned to the state land fund, and a criminal case has been opened.
According to the working group, an amphitheater was planned to be built on the site of a children's playground in the Bakhor mahalla of the same district. However, after an inspection, the project was cancelled, and the area was decided to be preserved as a green space for children's recreation.
Using aerospace monitoring, 374 potential violations were identified in the Yunusabad, Yakkasaray, and Mirzo-Ulugbek districts. Each violation is being investigated.
According to Said Saidov, Head of the Cadastral Agency, dozens of similar incidents have been recorded in three other districts of the capital. For example, on the grounds of one school, an entrepreneur planned to build a private educational institution on the site of soccer and basketball courts. Following the commission's intervention, the sports facilities were returned to the school.
Another case was uncovered in the Akbarabad mahalla of the Yunusabad district, where a businessman intended to build a 12-story building in violation of urban planning regulations on a children's playground and green space. The site was eventually returned to the residents.
Similar work is being carried out not only in Tashkent but also in other regions of the country. Specifically, in the Namangan region, more than 20 illegal constructions and unauthorized land seizures have been discovered. In all cases, administration heads have been instructed to restore public spaces.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev previously sharply criticized the capital's and regional leadership for neglecting the creation of public spaces. He emphasized that instead of finding new areas for green zones and sports grounds, officials often hand over public land to entrepreneurs for development.
