Amid a scorching summer, Tashkent residents face a severe lack of free and safe public swimming areas. With no municipal pools or beaches, thousands are turning to prohibited canals such as Burjar and Anhor, despite warning signs and regular police raids.
Reporter Mirolim Isajonov found that daily, hundreds of people—including children and the elderly—swim in these canals. Emergency services and police conduct frequent raids, issuing fines and warnings. However, residents say the demand is too high to be stopped by bans alone.
Hasan, a resident of Yakkasaray district: “Every summer, people come here. There’s no other free option. The cheapest pool costs 80,000 soms per hour. The water is flowing and natural. Even though it’s banned, people still come. You can’t solve the problem just by opposing it,” he said.
Adham from Shaykhontohur: “There are no free swimming spots in the capital; everything is banned. A pool costs at least 100,000 soms per hour. Not everyone can afford it. In this abnormal heat, swimming in fresh air and running water is a different pleasure,” he added.
A 70-year-old man who wished to remain anonymous: “In my youth, we swam for free in park lakes. Now those places are gone. A family day out at Charvak costs 4-5 million soms. Not every family can afford that. The state should build free pools and beaches. If not, at least organize the Anhor area, improve safety,” he urged.
Children’s Ombudsman Surayyo Rakhmanova stated: “Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees the right to rest. In summer, the need for swimming increases, but so do drownings. Existing swimming zones do not fully meet standards. Along with warnings, alternative safe water bodies must be created. Requests have been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers,” she said.
Tashkent mayor Shavkat Umurzakov: “Great question! This is the people’s pain. We will build 12 water bodies in Tashkent. They will allow swimming, fishing, and recreation. We will also improve water management and restore ditches,” he promised, without giving specific timelines.
Deputy head of Tashkent Emergency Situations Department Shavkat Ibragimov: “In the first half of 2026, 4 people drowned in canals. In 2025, 10 died. A project for the Bozsuv canal is being developed. If approved, special swimming areas will be created. Without our control, accidents could have increased 20-fold,” he noted.
Source: www.gazeta.uz