In Almaty, two years ago, the reconstruction of the exhibition greenhouse on the territory of the botanical garden began, which was built in 1969, but the contractors never finished the work.
According to MIA "Kazinform", the garden is now seeking sponsors to complete the greenhouse's reconstruction. Its area is 1025 m². Before the reconstruction began, the collection numbered more than 500 tropical plants.
"The contractors promised us in 2022 that they would finish the greenhouse before the cold weather set in, so we did not expect such a turn of events. For two winters in a row, we had to insulate the plants ourselves, heating them with electric heaters. From October to March, our employees and staff from the maintenance company worked around the clock to maintain the necessary temperature and humidity," said Sholpan Massalimova, head of the laboratory of tropical and subtropical plants.
In turn, the garden's lawyer, Yerik Toizhanov, reported that in 2022, the tender for the reconstruction of the greenhouse building and the procurement of technical supervision services was won by SHAKH Construction Company LLP.
In April, the company started work, but towards the end of the year it suspended construction, demanding an increase in the estimated cost, allegedly due to the rising price of building materials.
"The contract was drawn up for the sum of 1.5 billion tenge in February 2022. According to the terms, they were supposed to complete the facility by 14 June 2023, but they did not. After that, we went to court to have the company declared an unscrupulous participant in public procurement. Our claim was satisfied in August 2023, and the court also obliged them to complete the construction. But since then, they have taken no action; they have completely stopped the build and have not complied with the court's decision. We have appealed to the Department of Justice to have them held criminally liable," the lawyer said.
Furthermore, the Institute of Botany and Plant Introduction filed a claim for the recovery of a penalty, which the court also granted. At the same time, Yerik Toizhanov noted that the botanical garden is currently looking for sponsors.
"If a sponsor can be found now, then theoretically we can make it in time. Our main priority right now is to close the dome and turn on the heating. The remaining landscaping work can be done in winter or next year," he said.