Ministerial Decree No. 302 on attributing the status of protected area to certain freshwater formation zones.

This Ministerial Decree designates as protected areas: (a) the Zarafshan river valley, with an area of 47 467.2 hectares disaggregated by landlords, land tenants and leaseholders in accordance with Annex 1; (b) the Osh-Aravan freshwater deposit, with an area of 25 303 hectares disaggregated by landlords, land tenants and leaseholders in accordance with Annex 2; and (c) the Kitab-Shahrizab freshwater deposit, with an area of 17 036 hectares disaggregated by landlords, land tenants and leaseholders in accordance with Annex 4. The State Committee on Environmental Protection, jointly with the State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources, shall regularly manage fresh groundwater resources and protect them from pollution.