Citizen causes 260 million soums of damage by illegally cutting down 5 trees in Tashkent region

A resident of the Ohangaron district in the Tashkent region has caused 260 million soums in environmental damage by illegally cutting down trees, according to a report by the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection.

The illegal activity was discovered during environmental inspections conducted by the rapid environmental control group of the Tashkent region's Ecology Department. The offender, identified as B.D., a resident of Istiqbol Street, "Tashariq" neighborhood, cut down 2 chestnut bushes, 2 walnut trees, and 1 willow tree without obtaining the necessary permission. He was caught in the act while loading the pieces of the cut trees onto an Isuzu truck.

The inspectors immediately recorded the incident and issued a report. Based on the Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. 464, which regulates the planting, care, and usage of trees not included in the state forest fund, the total damage to nature was calculated at 260 million soums. The Isuzu truck used to transport the cut trees was impounded, by Article 291 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility.

The case has been forwarded to the Tashkent regional prosecutor's office for further legal evaluation.

Earlier, in Khorezm, a citizen was fined 27 million soums for cutting down four trees, highlighting the ongoing issue of illegal deforestation and its environmental consequences in Uzbekistan.