KULOB, January 24, 2011, Asia-Plus -- 1,500 hectares of lands, including 1,100 hectares of irrigated lands, remained uncultivated in Khatlon’s Kulob region last year, the Kulob land management committee head Tohir Saidov told reporters in Kulob on January 22.

“1,117 hectares of vacant lands were reported in Farkhor district alone,” said Saidov. “Besides, 309 hectares of vacant lands were registered in Hamadoni district and 53 hectares were reported in Vose district.”

According to him, these lands remained uncultivated because of sharp rise in the level of subterranean waters that made cultivation of them impossible.

Besides, nearly 100 hectares of dry-farming lands in the Olimtoy area of Danghara district were not cultivated last year.

Saidov added that heads of a number of farming units in the mentioned districts were fined a total of 38,000 somoni last year for breaking the country’s land legislation.