New procedures for withdrawal of land plots come into force in Uzbekistan

On June 29, the President signed the law “On procedures for the withdrawal of land plots for public needs with compensation”. On February 1, the document was adopted in the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, the Senate approved it on May 28. The law came into force three months later, on September 30.

According to the document, the withdrawal of land plots with compensation for the following purposes is recognized as public needs:

• provision of land for the needs of defense and state security, protected natural areas, creation and operation of free economic zones, free trade zones;
• fulfillment of obligations arising from international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• exploration and development of mineral deposits (with the exception of deposits of common minerals);
• construction (reconstruction) of roads and railways of republican and local significance, airports, airfields, air navigation facilities and aviation technical centers, railway transport facilities, bridges, subways, tunnels, engineering facilities and lines of the energy and communications system, space activities, main pipelines, engineering and communication networks, irrigation and melioration systems;
• execution of approved master plans for settlements in terms of construction of facilities at the expense of the state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• implementation of projects involving the construction of buildings and structures of state institutions of education, healthcare, culture and medical-social services at the expense of centralized investments, specified in state investment programs.

It is prohibited to interpret the withdrawal of land plots for any other purposes as a withdrawal for public needs.

Meetings of the Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, local councils on preliminary consideration of the initiative to withdraw a land plot are held openly with the participation of media representatives and the public.

After the decision of the local council on the withdrawal of the land plot, the khokimiyats work to reach an agreement with the right holders on the terms, types and amount of compensation.

In case of failure to reach an agreement with the right holder, it is not allowed to take actions that prevent the right holder from freely disposing of the real estate objects belonging to him, create conditions for obstructing the worthy life of the right holder in order to force him to sign the agreement.