Nearly 1,000 trees reportedly cut down by residents in Samarkand

Samarkand region’s Bulungur district has reportedly seen nearly a thousand trees cut down during the construction of a canal. The report was aired by the “Zamon” news program.

According to the report, the flow of water in the Oktepa canal — which stretches more than 23 kilometers — was temporarily blocked to begin concrete lining work. It is claimed that nearly a thousand trees along the canal, passing through the neighborhoods of Keldon, Nebosa, Oroqli, Gulzor, and Mingchinor, were felled.

“Various types of trees — including poplar, willow, mulberry, and walnut — appear to have been cut down in violation of the moratorium. What is surprising is that the entire Republic is currently experiencing water shortages. Groundwater levels have receded as well, meaning that once you plant a tree, nurturing it to this stage is extremely difficult,” Rasul Kusherbayev, adviser to the chairperson of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, stated that.

It was also reported that some of the trees had been cut down at the request of local residents living along the canal.

“One of the canal supervisors had them cut. He said, ‘Cut them, we have been ordered to do so. Remove them, there is a presidential decision," a resident said.

According to the report, the felled tree trunks were left to the residents themselves, on the condition that half of the payment be transferred to the relevant irrigation system administration.

It is worth noting that earlier, 174 trees were cut down in Tashkent.