The public to receive rewards for documenting illegal water use

In Uzbekistan, individuals who submit video materials documenting violations in the water sector will now be eligible for monetary rewards. This is outlined in the regulation “On the Procedure for Receiving, Reviewing Photos and (or) Video Recordings of Violations in the Water Sector Recorded by Individuals and Encouraging Persons Who Submit Them,” approved by a government resolution on June 7 of this year.

The regulation applies to administrative offenses outlined in Part 2 of Article 74 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility.

Under the new rules, individuals can record violations using video equipment and submit the footage to the Inspectorate for Supervision of the Safety of Water Facilities and Water Use under the Ministry of Water Resources. Submissions must be made within 48 hours via the official website: "v-nadzor.gov.uz".

The submitted photo and video materials must indicate the following:

•  The violation was committed.
• Information about the violator (if identifiable);
• The location, date, and time of the violation.

The duration of the video or photo evidence should generally not exceed 120 seconds.

A designated officer from the inspection agency will review the submissions within 10 days.

If the offense is a first-time violation, the offender will be issued a warning and recommendations to prevent repeated violations of water use regulations.

However, if a repeat violation is committed within one year after an administrative penalty has been imposed, the offender will be fined under the relevant provisions of the Code of Administrative Responsibility.

As an incentive, individuals who submit valid evidence will receive a cash reward equal to 25 percent of the **MCC** (Minimum Calculated Amount) from the fine collected from the violator.

This reward must be issued within 15 days of the fine being collected.

It is worth recalling that earlier, due to growing demand for groundwater—especially amid rising cases of unauthorized well drilling for irrigation and other needs, as well as water usage without proper controls and metering, Uzbekistan introduced legal liability for the illegal drilling of wells.