The deputy chairman of the board of the Association of Environmental Organisations of Kazakhstan, Bulat Kasymov, reported that a public commission under the association had identified the source of unpleasant odours in the capital's Urker neighbourhood.
On his Facebook page, he wrote that the cause of the smells was the dewatering sludge storage sites. This option had not featured in the official versions of state bodies, but the commission documented it as the source.
Following recommendations from specialists, the State Public Enterprise 'Astana Su Arnasy' relocated the landfill 4 km to the south. The old sites were covered with a sealed film and buried under a half-metre layer of soil.
According to Kasymov, the results became noticeable as early as August: the number of complaints fell fourfold — from 20 to 5. Residents who participated in the commission meeting also confirmed the improvement in the situation.
"Thank you to the active residents of Urker, the commission members and the State Public Enterprise 'Astana Su Arnasy' for their joint work. We have proven that results can be achieved within the framework of the law and without unnecessary hype," said Kasymov.
The association notes that a final solution to the sludge disposal problem is expected after the commissioning of the WWTP-2 (wastewater treatment plant). However, the residents of Urker are already breathing clean air today.
"All the materials from the commission's work are published on the aeok.kz website. In essence, this is a roadmap for the country's citizens: how to defend their constitutional rights to a healthy environment," the statement reads.