DUSHANBE, July 26, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The Uzbek Environmental Movement jointly with the public of Uzbekistan’s Surkhondaryo region is preparing lawsuit with international court over Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO)’s environmental damage to the Surkhondaryo region, the REGNUM news agency reports.

According to REGNUM, Saudrasul Sanginov, deputy chairman of the Executive Committee of the Uzbek Environmental Movement, noted that Uzbek environmentalists have raised the issue of the environmental damage from TALCO and the necessity of taking urgent measures to resolve the problem of the environmental damage from Tajik aluminum smelter to Sariasiyo, Uzun, Denau, Altynsay, Shurchin and Kumkurgan districts in the Surkhondaryo region for many years.  “In accordance with international conventions, the enterprise must repair damage both to residents of Uzbekistan and residents of Tajikistan.” Uzbek environmentalist was quoted as saying.

According to him, the enterprise discharges up to 22,000 tons of hazardous substances, including 120 tons of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, into the atmosphere.

In the meantime, TALCO has rejected allegations by the Uzbek Environmental Movement that its plant caused serious environmental damage to Uzbek regions.

Igor Sattarov, a spokesman for TALCO, says, “There is international legal framework and all existing problems should be tackled through it.  And not some environmental movement that is obviously politicizing the issue should be engaged in resolving this issue.  There ought to have any arguments to file such lawsuits.”

According to him, the TALCO management has repeatedly applied to Uzbek environmentalists proposing to carry out examination but they have refused.

We will recall that the Uzbek Environmental Movement, which has 15 seats in the Uzbek parliament, said in March 2010 that it has calculated the environmental damage from Talco to Uzbekistan''s Surkhondaryo region on the basis of research by Uzbek scientists.  It claimed Talco is responsible for some $228 million in damage to four districts in the region.

TALCO, however, denied that statement as unfounded.  TALCO top managers noted that they paid proper attention to investment in environment-friendly technology and implementation of environmental projects.