South Fergana Canal pollution traced to SAMO knitwear factory

The case regarding the pollution of the South Fergana Canal was reviewed by the Khodjaabad District Criminal Court.

According to the court decision dated 8 August 2025, “Nil-Granite” LLC (“SAMO” brand), led by Abduvahob Matkarimov, had been discharging wastewater into the South Fergana Canal. The ruling stated that the efficiency of the plant’s local water treatment facility, built to process production wastewater, had to be under constant supervision. However, it was found that the facility was only partially operational. Matkarimov allowed untreated emergency wastewater to be discharged into the canal through a special ditch on the company’s premises.

This violation was identified during an inspection by the Andijan Regional Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change on 21 May 2025.

Matkarimov was found guilty of committing an offence under Part 1 of Article 72 of the Administrative Liability Code (violation of water resource protection rules) and fined five basic calculation units – UZS 1,875,000 – to be paid to the state budget.

As Matkarimov had submitted a written request consenting to the case being considered in his absence, the court reviewed the administrative case without his participation.

On 26 July this year, thick white foam was seen flowing in the section of the South Fergana Canal passing through the village of Shirmonbuloq in Buloqboshi district. In a Kun.uz investigation, a canal worker (mirab), Ilhom Buvaev, stated that wastewater from the “SAMO” knitwear factory in Khodjaabad district regularly flows into the canal, constantly polluting its water.

“Cellophane, coal-like black chemicals, foam – all flow into the canal. By autumn, no living creatures are left in the water. Even the fish die from the chemical poison. The canal is constantly being contaminated with toxins, and now only eels remain. Downstream from the discharge point of the SAMO factory, even the frogs have died. All wildlife has been wiped out. We used to drink this water before. Livestock used to drink it too, but now we don’t even give it to chickens,” he said.

In the same investigation, Jasurbek Khudoyberdiyev, chief specialist of the Buloqboshi District Ecology Department, confirmed that the incident was linked to the SAMO factory.

“Following the 26 July incident of foam in the South Fergana Canal, an emergency task force was formed and the situation was investigated. It was established that ‘Nil-Granite’ LLC, operating in Khodjaabad District, had discharged wastewater into the canal,” the ecology department representative said.

In a statement dated 30 May 2025, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change reported that wastewater from the textile dyeing workshop of “N.G.” LLC was being discharged partially untreated into the South Fergana Canal due to the incomplete functioning of its treatment facility. The ministry said that the necessary documents had been formalised and sent to court.

According to interdepartmental correspondence available to Kun.uz, an administrative offence report on the case was prepared in accordance with the procedure and submitted to the Khodjaabad District Criminal Court on 1 August.

A source in the court confirmed that the administrative case files had indeed been received by the Khodjaabad District Criminal Court. However, due to deficiencies in the materials, they were returned to the Ecology Department. Whether these deficiencies were addressed and the case was resubmitted to court remains unknown to the editorial team.