The Head of the Department for Monitoring the Handling of Appeals of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanatbek Zhaissanbayev, during an online meeting, listened to the complaints of eco-activists and public figures regarding numerous violations committed on the territory of Maly Taldykol in the capital. He issued a number of recommendations to state bodies aimed at improving the ecological situation of the Maly Taldykol area.
In particular, the Ministry of Ecology needs to inspect the contents of the stormwater treatment station, and also, jointly with the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, tighten control over offences related to pollution of the reservoir area.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Industry and Construction, as well as the First Deputy Akim of Astana, Nurlan Nurkenov.
Kanatbek Zhaissanbayev familiarised himself in detail with the appeal from public figures regarding the preservation of Maly Taldykol. He called on the akimat and state bodies, within the scope of their powers, to assist public associations, so that activists do not have to turn to the Presidential Administration out of desperation.
One of the pressing issues raised at the meeting was the critical situation with sewage in the capital. According to public figures, the wastewater treatment plants are operating at full capacity, and excess volumes of waste are being discharged into Maly Taldykol.
Meanwhile, according to activists, Deputy Akim Nurkenov reported that "Existing capacities are insufficient for sewage disposal without violations."
Credit must be given to the organisers of the meeting, represented by eco-activists and public figures of the NGO "Menin Elim Dala" and the NGO "SOS Taldykol" for their desire and efforts to preserve the ecology of Maly Taldykol. At the same time, it is worth remembering that sometimes people who call themselves public figures actually pursue not the most noble goals.
Under the pretext of expressing public opinion, especially on environmental and housing issues, public hearings and rallies often serve as a powerful tool through which certain forces, remaining in the shadows, try to achieve their own goals.
The editorial board of FBRK has been monitoring the conduct of public hearings for several years now. Of course, some activists genuinely act in the interests of the population, but there are also those who use public resonance for their own interests, in other words, engage in 'astroturfing'.
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For reference: Astroturfing refers to artificially created public opinion that is disguised as a grassroots initiative.
This term, new at first glance, quite specifically describes fairly old methods of influence. In most cases, astroturfing is considered a harmful phenomenon that misleads a large number of people, as well as undermining trust in genuine public initiatives, which may be mistaken for fake ones.
Unfortunately, in recent years, public hearings and rallies in Kazakhstan have often become a platform for this very astroturfing. Therefore, it never hurts to take a closer look at the 'mouthpieces' of any public initiatives before agreeing to participate in them and offering unconditional support.