The company accused of polluting the South Fergana canal in May has once again become the center of an environmental conflict. This was reported by Upl.uz.
At the end of July, another incident of discharging foam-forming wastewater was recorded. Despite the previously imposed fine, the problem of pollution in the water basin of Andijan region remains urgent.
The issue of holding those responsible accountable is taking a lot of time due to administrative complexities. On May 21, 2025, an inspection conducted by the Andijan Regional Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection revealed that the treatment facilities of "Nil-Granite" LLC, operating under the SAMO brand, were not functioning properly.
As a result, industrial waste was discharged directly into the South Fergana canal through special channels. A decision regarding this violation was made on August 8, 2025, at the Khojaobod district court.
The head of the company, Abduvahob Matkarimov, was found guilty of violating water resource protection rules and was fined 1,875,000 soms. The responsible person did not participate in the court proceedings based on his application.
However, less than two months later, the situation worsened. On July 26, 2025, a thick layer of white foam appeared along the canal passing through the Shirmonbulok village area in Bulakbosh district.
The local population and officials immediately identified the source of the problem. An investigation by the media revealed that Mirab Ilkhom Buvaev reported that waste from the SAMO knitwear factory was regularly polluting the water.
According to him, the canal contained not only foam but also black chemical substances and cellophane. This situation has reached the level of an ecological disaster.
Fish and other animals living in the canal are dying due to poisoning. Until the first cold days, the water was used for drinking and irrigation, but now it is even considered dangerous for domestic animals.
Jasurbek Khudoyberdiyev, the chief specialist of the Bulakbosh district ecology department, also confirmed this information. A rapid response team was formed regarding the July 26 incident, and "Nil-Granite" LLC was again found guilty.
A new administrative report on the July pollution was drawn up. The document was sent to the Khojaobod district court on August 1, 2025, but was returned to the department due to deficiencies in the paperwork.
There is currently no information on whether these deficiencies have been corrected or if the case has been resubmitted to the court, which complicates the resolution of accountability. The South Fergana canal was constructed in 1940-1941 by a people's construction method and is one of the largest irrigation systems in Central Asia.
Its length is approximately 120 kilometers and it plays an important role in irrigating agricultural lands in the Fergana Valley.
