In Samarkand, universities will be tasked with monitoring street cleanliness and checking whether there are enough trees on the city's roads. Adiz Boboev, the governor of Samarkand province, issued this directive during a meeting with the rectors of local higher education institutions.
In a video clip from the meeting, the governor explained that universities would be assigned between one and three streets each, depending on their proximity.
"I am not telling you to plant trees or build sidewalks. You will simply become the 'owners' of that street," the governor said. "Every morning, a university instructor will take a walk down the street—which is also beneficial for their health. You will examine the cleanliness of the street, identify where residents face challenges, note where sidewalks are broken, and spot which saplings are drying up or failing to thrive. You will see where accessibility for people with disabilities is lacking. Then there is the matter of landscaping; there are a thousand different issues."
Adiz Boboev instructed the rectors to develop a "roadmap" to sort out the issues on their assigned streets.
"Our immediate priority is to nurse the existing 'sick' trees back to health. We started this a week ago. Your next task will be to compile a list of locations where trees are missing. If you specify the types of saplings needed, we will source them. Autumn is two months away, so we can plant them in November. We will replace trees that were planted haphazardly," the provincial leader stated.
Following the circulation of the video, the Samarkand provincial administration issued a clarification regarding the statement. The administration noted that the primary goal of this recommendation is not to involve students in manual labor, but rather to establish public oversight and effectively leverage the academic potential of specialized universities, faculties, and departments.
“Today, several factors, including various diseases, pests, and improper agricultural practices, are causing some trees on city streets to wither and decay. Addressing these issues requires a strictly scientific approach, guided by the advice and recommendations of experts,” the statement reads.
In light of this, during the meeting with university rectors, it was proposed to bridge academic research with practical observations in the urban environment. This initiative is designed for young researchers and faculty members specializing in fields such as biology, ecology, agronomy, soil science, and landscape design.
Through this process, students and young scientists will be able to analyze tree health, conduct monitoring, and formulate scientific conclusions and recommendations for the early detection of diseases and pests. Meanwhile, all hands-on agricultural and manual labor will be carried out exclusively by the relevant municipal and landscaping departments.
The administration emphasized that this initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions, the local government, and public utility services.
The provincial administration further stated that the implementation of any initiative will strictly adhere to legal requirements, protect the rights and interests of citizens, and absolutely prohibit forced labor.
Under national legislation, forcing educators into activities outside their professional duties is strictly prohibited. According to Article 51 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, the administrative coercion of educators into labor carries a fine ranging from 100 to 150 times the Base Calculating Amount (BCA). A repeat offense triggers criminal liability.
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