Unlicensed Extraction of Inert Materials (Gravel) in the Riverbed of the Kok-Art River
Illegal extraction of inert materials (gravel) in the Kok-Art riverbed, near the "Japan" bridge.
In the vicinity of the city of Jalal-Abad, illegal extraction is predominantly taking place on the Kok-Art river, where local residents use sand and gravel materials for their outbuildings or private homes. Unfortunately, there is no perfected methodology to accurately calculate the damage caused to the environment by illegal extraction. However, this does not mean that the damage is insignificant, as the extraction of gravel-sand mixtures in the river disrupts the riverbed, creates pits, and if extraction occurs in fields or forests, it leads to erosion and gully formation, which can subsequently result in land loss. The operation of heavy machinery that extracts sand and gravel from riverbeds significantly affects the fish's food supply.
When excavators work in the riverbed, they stir up sediment—particles of sand and soil. All of this then settles in thick layers on the bottom, burying benthic organisms and various small crustaceans that serve as the primary food for fish. Scientists have established that the negative impact of such activities extends up to 500 meters downstream and can lead to the complete destruction of the fish's food base.
According to specialists, the penalties for extracting sand and gravel from riverbeds are very small. It is sometimes impossible to reach the organizers of this profitable business. The scheme is simple—an entrepreneur hires an excavator and trucks to extract river sand and gravel, which is considered the best for construction work. A truckload of such sand or gravel costs from 3 to 5-6 thousand soms. One excavator can load up to 40 trucks in a day. As a result, the profit is enormous compared to our fines. Moreover, entrepreneurs do not pay taxes to anyone.
This activity leads to the depletion of surface and groundwater, marsh formation, and pollution of protected water zones, destruction of their banks, and alteration of the riverbed.
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