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Tashkent waits once again — every day, residents check the weather forecast, hoping the city hokim will finally sign the decision to start the heating season. People are puzzled: why are city officials delaying this decision when residents pay for heating out of their own pockets? Heating is not a charity service, and every month, significant sums go toward paying for thermal services. Veolia Energy Tashkent has already announced it is fully prepared to supply heat to the capital, so what is the city administration waiting for? Isn’t it obvious that regulations set more than 10 years ago no longer meet residents’ real needs? Especially with rising utility costs, residents should at least expect timely heating, without having to fight for it year after year.
According to the law, the heating season begins when the average daily outdoor temperature remains below 8 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. However, these regulations were established more than a decade ago when climate conditions and housing infrastructure were different. In today’s reality, these standards no longer work: temperatures have not yet dropped to 8 degrees, but residents are already shivering in their apartments. The question is: why are we still living by outdated rules?
Homes, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals are cold, and this is already affecting people’s health. Children, the elderly, and everyone else struggle in unheated spaces. Respiratory infections and colds will soon affect every apartment in Tashkent if this approach continues. Hospitals are also without heat, and patients have to recover in cold conditions, which is hardly conducive to recovery.
The paradox is that heating costs are paid by residents, so why can’t they receive the service according to their real needs? This is not charity from the hokimiyat or the heating provider. Meanwhile, Veolia Energy Tashkent has already stated that it is technically ready to supply heat in the city, yet it is still waiting for a decision from the city administration. Why does the hokim remain silent? No answer has been given.
Are there reasons to strictly adhere to standards that are no longer relevant? It would be reasonable to revise these standards and start the heating season when indoor temperatures genuinely call for it. Climate change has made the fall-winter period harsher, and central heating remains residents’ only hope for comfort in their homes.
The system needs to become more flexible to meet modern needs. For instance, a regulation could be implemented where heating is turned on at an average daily temperature of 10 degrees or when indoor temperatures significantly drop. It is essential to consider not only the calendar and formal numbers but also citizens’ comfort and the health of children and the elderly.
The heating season is not just a date on the calendar. It is a matter of safety, health, and quality of life for city residents. It’s time to stop following outdated standards and prioritize the comfort and well-being of the capital’s residents.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.
