Repeat offenders of illegal well drilling face increased fines in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has officially established legal accountability for unauthorized well drilling, according to the newly amended legislation adopted on May 5. The law aims to protect underground water resources and regulate water usage, following an increase in unlicensed well drilling for irrigation and household needs without proper monitoring.

Unauthorized extraction of underground water, violations of consumption rules, exceeding water usage limits, and illegal drilling will result in:

• Fines for individuals range between 2.25 million UZS to 5.67 million UZS (6 to 15 times the base calculation amount).
• Fines for officials between 5.67 million UZS and 7.5 million UZS (15 to 20 times the base amount).

Repeat offenses within one year will lead to:

• Increased fines for individuals up to 7.5 million UZS (15 to 20 times the base amount).
• Officials could face fines up to 11.25 million UZS (21 to 30 times the base amount).

Additionally, those extracting underground water without specialized measurement equipment will face a tax penalty equal to five times the prescribed rate, except for private households using up to five cubic meters of water per day for their own needs, including garden irrigation.

The law will officially take effect three months after its publication.