For the last few years, the issue of preserving the group of Maly Taldykol lakes in Astana has been acute due to active construction of infrastructure facilities along the coastline. The lake is gradually drying up, and foundations for residential complexes are being laid on the areas that have become free of water.
By autumn 2022, virtually nothing remained of the water body near the Zelyony Kvartal residential complex. Defenders of Taldykol describe the backfilling and development of the lake system as nothing less than an environmental crime during the tenure of former Akim Altynbek Kulginov.
The founder of the FBRC repeatedly raised this issue on his page and published satellite images of the reservoir, which clearly show how, in a short time, a large lake turned into a dried-up swamp.
In March 2022, the Aqiqat Coalition of Corporate Lawyers filed a petition that was considered by the Board for Administrative Cases. This resulted in a ban on construction work on 7 land plots in the group of Maly Taldykol lakes. However, developers openly ignored the ruling.
Later, Majilis deputies demanded that the akimat's decisions on the illegal allocation of land plots in the Maly Taldykol area be challenged. Not long ago, activists demanded that the lakes be preserved and that their backfilling for the construction of houses and infrastructure be prevented. However, the court ruled that only one of the reservoirs should become a water protection zone.
In the summer of this year, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at a meeting on the development of the capital that he was giving the akim of Astana one year to improve the situation in the city. Upon coming to power in the capital, Zhenis Kassymbek promised to put the city in order.
Recently, a meeting took place between the akim and activists, with the participation of heads of the State Institution UOOSP, Astanagenplan, the Centre for Urbanism, as well as the contractor and design companies for the eco-park. The akim listened to all sides and made a number of decisions, on the basis of which corresponding amendments will be made to the draft of the new Astana General Plan.
Thus, it was decided that the expansion of the stormwater treatment plant will take place elsewhere, not at the expense of backfilling part of Lake No. 7. In addition, the akim gave instructions not to build on Lake No. 9 (south of Uly Dala Avenue) and to remove land allocations for multi-storey residential complexes from the lake area. The meeting also touched upon the topic of the eco-park and its necessity on the territory of Lake No. 4.
Meanwhile, the editorial board of FBRC analysed the plots allocated for the development of the Maly Taldykol territories, as well as their owners.
According to preliminary data, over 200 land plots with a total area of more than 700 hectares have been privatised around the reservoir. There are approximately 30 different plot owners, among which the most frequently encountered are SPK Astana JSC, the State Institution 'Construction Department of Astana City' and the SAT network of construction companies.
Thus, plot 21-320-148-428 (area 0.5842 ha), north of Syganak Street, near the Mechta Shopping Centre, for the construction of a residential complex with commercial premises and parking, has been in private ownership since December 2020 by Shabyt 2020 LLP (construction of residential buildings), owned by Aidos Yesetov.
The adjacent plot 21-320-148-424 (area 0.2567 ha), also belonged to Shabyt 2020 LLP for the construction of a similar residential complex under a temporary, paid, short-term land use right. The land use period was due to end in February 2023.
Incidentally, in March 2022, Shabyt 2020 LLP was brought to administrative responsibility for carrying out construction and installation work without coordination with the bodies exercising state architectural and construction control. The LLP's representative admitted guilt; considering this circumstance, the court imposed an administrative fine on Shabyt 2020 LLP in the amount of more than 53 thousand tenge.
In the same district, near the Mechta Shopping Centre, there is plot 21-320-135-2651 (area 1.1166 ha), which belonged, since April 2022, to the now-liquidated Arman Qala Construction LLP, under a temporary, paid, short-term land use right for the construction of a multi-apartment residential complex with an integrated kindergarten, other premises and parking facilities.
Adjacent to it is plot 21-320-135-967 (area 1.1635 ha), held under a temporary, paid, long-term, shared land use right by MabexTradeLtd LLP since June 2022, with a designated purpose for the operation of a kindergarten. The LLP, focused on the operation of leased real estate, belongs to Aibek Maralbayev.
In June 2022, MabexTradeLtd LLP was fined in the amount of about 428 thousand tenge for improper execution of an instruction issued by an official of the Emergency Situations Department.
Nearby is plot 21-320-135-4160 (area 1.1414 ha), where a school for 576 students and a kindergarten for 80 places have been built. This plot has been privately owned by Euro Ast KZ2019 LLP since October 2019, belonging to Boris Omarov and B.A.KZ2020 LLP.
Plots 21-320-135-4421 and 21-320-135-4422 (total area 0.1002 ha), for the construction and operation of a multi-functional complex, have belonged to Mukhametzhanova Aidana Rinatovna (Zhasstar sole trader) since February 2021.
To be continued...