Uzbekistan's Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, Sherzod Hidoyatov, announced at a press conference on March 5 that 570 multi-story apartment buildings, comprising 38,000 residential units, were illegally constructed in the country between 2018 and 2023. The minister stated that these 570 buildings, part of 170 problematic projects, were erected in violation of legal regulations.
Hidoyatov detailed that the illegal construction took various forms: some entrepreneurs failed to conduct project expertise, did not register with control inspections, exceeded their land boundaries by 40-50 cm during construction, or violated auction procedures for land acquisition. A government meeting was held on this issue, with participation from law enforcement agency leaders.
To date, 90% of the 570 apartment buildings with 38,000 units have undergone instrumental inspections, and this process is ongoing. Based on the results of these inspections, a system for issuing permits to residents for apartment purchases is being developed. Priority is being given to checking compliance with safety standards during construction, as well as the availability of amenities such as children's playgrounds and parking lots.
The minister added that prosecutors are also involved in this matter. Permits for apartment purchases will be granted to residents only after entrepreneurs implement the required solutions. Criminal cases have already been initiated against those responsible for the illegal construction, and they will face criminal liability.
In response to a question about how many of the 170 objects are slated for demolition, Hidoyatov emphasized that if a building's seismic resistance does not meet standards and the instrumental inspection report recommends demolition, the building will definitely be dismantled, and alternative solutions will be developed.
Hidoyatov also noted that the illegal construction occurred up to 2023, and after digitizing the system, all processes have become transparent, with no one issuing permits illegally. He claimed that if there had been corruption in the system, all 38,000 units would have been documented, but due to its absence, this is not possible. Going forward, problematic and illegal construction will be prevented.
It is worth recalling that the Construction Minister previously addressed the issue of the 38,000 units in illegally built apartment buildings during a meeting with entrepreneurs at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on December 18. He explained that illegal construction encompasses several categories of violations: construction without land permits, without project approval from architectural councils, without compliance checks with regulations, and without submission for expertise.
Source: www.gazeta.uz