Hereinafter the responsibility for wasting water is increased

By 1 May this year, a proposal will be developed to strengthen responsibility for the illegal and inefficient use of water resources of hydro-technical structures of water management facilities in Uzbekistan.  This was determined in the decision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed on 1 April 2023, "On measures that cannot be delayed to increase the efficiency of the use of water resources." 

According to the decision, from 1 April 2023, the following procedure for state support for the introduction of water-saving technologies in the production of agricultural products will be established: 

Collateral security for loans of commercial banks up to 50%, but not more than 2.5 billion soms, is provided based on the guarantee of the state fund for business support; 

To cover the part of the interest rate exceeding the main rate, but not more than 30% of the main rate, compensation is provided from the fund for the loans of commercial banks allocated in the national currency, the interest rate of which does not exceed 1.5 times the main rate of the Central Bank. 

Until August 2023, agricultural producers who introduced water-saving technologies in 2022 and received 50% of the subsidy funds will be allocated the remaining 50% of the subsidy amount, determined based on the use of the systems, based on the conclusion of the district working group. 

Also, until 1 March 2024, a pilot project will be implemented in the Kasbi district of Kashkadarya region on digitalization of management of all water access points and delivery of water to users. 

The "Water account" information system will be created, which will allow to fill out the formalized documents between water supply organizations and water consumers in electronic form at the end of each month and confirm them with digital signatures. 

From 1 January 2025, the following procedure will be introduced: 

"Water Accounting" AT will be introduced in all regions of the republic; 

When calculating taxes for the use of water resources used for irrigation of agricultural lands, the practice of automatically forming tax reports by tax authorities based on the information provided through IT "Water Account" will be introduced.