In order to implement paragraph 9 of the Action Plan of the Inter-agency Council on Radiation Safety for 2020-2021, which was approved on December 9, 2019, by Council’s Chairman, the Deputy-Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, on March 11, 2021, the Governor of Sughd Region – Rajjaboy Ahmadzoda, the President of National Academy of Science of Tajikistan – academician Farhod Rahimi, the Director of Nuclear and radiation safety agency – Dr. Ilhom Mirsaidzoda and the Mayor of Buston city – Rano Hashimzoda laid the foundation stone for the construction of Branch office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan (NRSA NAST) in Northern Tajikistan. 

It must be pointed out that in accordance with Article 6 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan "On Radiation Safety" the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency is State regulatory authority on ensuring radiation safety and implements a unified state policy in the country. The NRSA branch office in the Sughd region is a part of the Agency and has been operating since 2004. A separate building for the NRSA Branch office in the Sughd region is needed for ensuring radiation safety in the Sughd region and for control over the organizations using radioactive sources there.

Moreover, in 2021, in the framework of cooperation with the Russian Federation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD projects are planned for implementation of remediation of uranium legacy sites of Istiqlol and Degmay. The branch of NRSA in the North will regularly evaluate the activities of these projects by monitoring and assessing in order to ensure radiation safety in the Sughd region. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already purchased the necessary equipment for the NRSA Branch office in the North (spectrometers, dosimeters, and mobile laboratory devices) and it will be in operation immediately upon building construction completion.

Territory for NRSA Branch office in the North has been allocated in the center of Buston city and the construction has been planned to finish within two years.