Industrial waste devastates South Fergana canal ecosystem

On July 26, thick white foam was observed flowing through the South Fergana Canal in the Shirmonbuloq village of Bulakbashi district. The source of the foam, its composition, and the extent of its environmental impact remain unclear. A Kun.uz correspondent sought comments from local residents and officials.

Local voices highlight ongoing pollution

Ilhom Buvaev, a water manager in Shirmonbuloq, shared his observations:

“Since 2022, I’ve been monitoring the South Fergana Canal. From night until morning, all sorts of waste flow through it. There’s no organization overseeing this. Wastewater from the SAMO textile factory in Khojabod district consistently pollutes the canal. Cellophane, black chemical residues resembling coal, and foam are common. By autumn, no living creatures remain in the canal – even the fish die from the toxic chemicals. Recently, white foam flowed through, and it only gained attention after visitors to Shirmonbuloq recorded videos and posted them online. For us, foam in the canal is normal – it’s not surprising anymore.”

Buvaev noted that residents of Bulakbashi, Khojabod, and Qoʻrgʻontepa are aware of the issue, yet no action has been taken. “This has been happening for three or four years. The district and regional ecology departments know where the chemicals are coming from. Only snakehead fish survive in the canal now. Frogs have died out downstream from where SAMO releases its wastewater. Wildlife has been wiped out.”

He added, “If you catch a fish, its upper body is practically dissolved. We used to drink this water and give it to livestock. Now, we don’t even give it to chickens – we use our own clean drinking water instead.”

Another resident, Abduvali Sharipov, recalled better times:

“The canal’s condition is a disgrace. In my youth, we swam here and caught fish to eat. Now, there’s nothing left of the canal we knew. No one swims anymore, not even the younger generation, because it’s full of chemicals. Just yesterday, white foam flowed through. There was a time when this canal was teeming with fish – those were good days. What are the ecology officials looking at? We don’t understand. If waste keeps flowing, only God knows what will happen next.”

Official responses and investigations

Firdavs Madrahimov, a specialist from the Andijan Regional Sanitary-Epidemiological Department, stated that water samples were collected from various points and sent for laboratory analysis.

“Following the incident that spread on social media, we began investigating Nil Granit LLC. The process is ongoing, and we’ve taken samples from the wastewater sources and the canal’s entry and exit points. We’re examining all technological processes. We’ll provide further details once laboratory results are available,” Madrahimov said.

Jasurbek Khudoyberdiev, chief specialist at the Bulakbashi District Ecology Department, confirmed the involvement of SAMO.

“On July 26, a rapid response team was formed to investigate the foam in the South Fergana Canal. Water samples were collected from affected areas in Bulakbashi district and sent for laboratory analysis. Investigations revealed that Nil Granit LLC, operating in Khojabod district, was discharging wastewater into the canal. The water, released through an underground pipe stretching 3 kilometers, was not fully treated before entering the canal. Documents related to this violation are being prepared for submission to the court, and legal measures will be taken against those responsible,” Khudoyberdiev explained.

The investigation was recorded on July 31. On August 2, Kun.uz followed up with specialists, but laboratory results were not yet available.