Water supply crisis hits 813 neighborhoods

There are over 800 neighborhoods in Uzbekistan facing critical water supply issues. By 2026, the plan is to improve water supply in 590 neighborhoods through targeted programs of "Uzsuvtaminot". Additionally, water supply will be improved in 130 neighborhoods as part of state social order projects, and in 93 neighborhoods through budget initiatives.

There are numerous projects, but not everyone is well-informed about them. Clear and open information regarding the locations, schedules, and quantities of pipelines or structures being installed is lacking, making oversight nearly impossible. Inadequate quality control during construction results in inefficient projects, unjustified costs, and ultimately, failure to deliver water to the population.

In partnership with the Agency for Strategic Reforms, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, and Uzsuvtaminot JSC gathered fragmented information about drinking and wastewater projects and communicated it to the public. This effort aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and construction quality in infrastructure projects. Additionally, they created a specific guide for residents to monitor the maintenance of drinking water networks in their local area.The manual provides typical solutions for building a drinking water network and explains what residents should look out for in a clear and straightforward manner.

Aziza UMAROVA – Head of the Office of Achieving Results, Agency for Strategic Reforms 

- We have created a manual for the public to oversee construction work. Additionally, a Telegram bot has been developed and is operational. Citizens can use this bot to send their complaints and suggestions about water supply construction projects. This data will be then collected and reviewed.

A Telegram bot has been created to send reports of identified violations to specific inspection units within the Ministry of Construction and Housing. These reports will be monitored through the bot. Once a violation is rectified, a message will be sent to the individual. The report will then be closed upon their confirmation.

The data collected via a Telegram bot in the form of questionnaires is used to create a GIS map. This data promotes transparency and aids in project oversight and planning.