Measures to improve drinking water supply in the regions have been identified

On October 23, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on improving drinking water supply and sewerage systems in the regions, planting food crops.

The issue of drinking water supply occupies a special place in the regional and social development programs implemented in our country. To ensure the quality and stability of the services provided, it is important to reduce the cost of production.

The analysis shows that today the cost of 1 cubic meter of drinking water in Tashkent is 448 soums, while in Namangan – almost 3 thousand soums, in Samarkand and Navoi – 2 thousand 600 soums.

The share of electricity in the cost of water production is on average 27 percent in the country. But in the Ferghana, Namangan and Tashkent regions, this indicator is high.

As you know, in order to expand the use of alternative energy sources, solar panels are installed in enterprises, organizations and homes. However, water supply companies consuming 880 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year are not taking sufficient measures to switch to renewable sources, it was indicated at the meeting.

The Head of State, having set the task for the khokims of the regions to reduce the cost of drinking water, noted that the biggest help for this is to obtain part of the electricity consumed by water management enterprises from "green" sources.  

For example, now water supply companies buy 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity for an average of 900 soums. The price of electricity produced at solar power plants averages 350-400 soums, that is cheaper by more than 2 times. By attracting investors, solar panels can be installed in empty areas around hydraulic structures.

It is also indicated that it is necessary to replace old pumps with energy-saving analogues.

The possibilities of revising the cost of water management projects and localization of materials used in them are listed.

It is determined that from now on new projects in this area will be submitted for consideration by local kengashes after their study on the ground, obtaining the opinions and approval of residents. All information about how much money has been allocated for the project, which company is the contractor and when it will be launched is subject to public disclosure. Thus, public control will be strengthened.

The meeting also discussed measures for planting crops in the aisles of vineyards and orchards.

There are 331 thousand hectares of orchards and 153 thousand hectares of vineyards in our country. If onions, garlic, carrots, peanuts, potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers are planted in the fields between the rows, this will be an additional source of saturation of markets and income for the population.

In this regard, measures are planned for planting vegetables on 92 thousand hectares by the end of the year using the "ninety days" method, providing seeds and water. Research institutes in the system of the Ministry of Agriculture will give scientific recommendations on the selection of climate-appropriate types of crops and agricultural technology.

It was noted that these measures are aimed at ensuring the sustainable operation of the water sector and strengthening food security, ultimately improving the well–being of our people.

The meeting heard reports of the heads of industries and khokims of the regions on the issues on the agenda.