Published
03/24/2026, 15:50Serious issues regarding waste management and environmental infrastructure have been identified in the city of Osh and the Osh region. This came to light during a working visit by the Minister of Natural Resources, Akyl Toktobaev.
As part of his visit to the Osh Regional Administration, the minister held a meeting with staff, where he outlined key priorities and reviewed the work of the environmental and technical supervision service. One of the main topics was the need to shift from punitive measures to the prevention of industrial safety violations.
Particular attention was paid to the waste situation. In the Kara-Suu district, there are only three legal collection points for solid household waste, which, according to the minister, poses a real risk of a ‘waste crisis’. Across the region as a whole, there are 33 landfill sites, but their condition requires closer monitoring. An additional problem remains the lack of a proper sewerage system in Osh, which directly affects the environmental situation.
The issue of staff shortages was also raised at the meeting. The region lacks specialists in specific fields, including experts in emissions calculation and environmental monitoring staff. The Minister instructed officials to establish an exchange of expertise with Bishkek and to consider increasing the number of inspectors.
Among the objectives for 2026 are the development of infrastructure for nature parks, the strengthening of environmental monitoring, and the introduction of modern methods for controlling emissions.
“An inspector’s work is not just about fines, but above all about prevention and professional expertise. It is important to resolve staffing issues promptly so that economic development does not conflict with environmental safety,” emphasised Akyl Toktabaev.
According to SETN data, 129 inspections of local authorities were carried out in 2025, revealing 435 violations, of which 340 have already been rectified. Following the inspections, orders were issued, reports were drawn up and fines totalling 800,000 KGS were imposed. In addition, environmental damage amounting to almost 6 million KGS was recorded, and part of the funds has already been recovered.
