The Environmental Protection Prosecutor's Office of the North Kazakhstan Region has identified numerous violations in the actions of officials from local executive bodies.
According to the press service of the department, officials allowed an unjustified reduction in the volume of compensatory planting of vegetation by more than 8,000 units.
"Facts have also been revealed of an incorrect calculation of the amount of damage to the plant world using invalid base rates, and the failure to fulfil obligations for compensatory planting in the amount of 730 units by 8 business entities. At the same time, measures to compel these individuals were not taken," the statement said.
Meanwhile, in the Mamlyut district, a case was discovered where the local akimat removed seedlings without the necessary permits. In response, the regional akimat developed an action plan to eliminate the identified violations and to protect and safeguard green spaces.
Some of the dishonest entrepreneurs have already carried out compensatory planting of 300 trees.
"For the remaining violators, pre-trial measures have been taken to compel them to fulfil their compensatory planting obligations, with subsequent recourse to the courts if they fail to comply," the prosecutor's office notes.
Four officials were brought to disciplinary responsibility for improper performance of duties, including the head of the housing and communal services department of Petropavlovsk and the mayor of the city of Mamlyutka.
For the untimely execution of a lawful demand from the prosecutor, the head of a department of the Petropavlovsk akimat was brought to administrative responsibility under Article 665 of the Administrative Offences Code. The fine was collected in full.
This is not an isolated case of officials being held accountable for environmental violations.
It will be recalled that in July, the environmental protection prosecutor's office identified more than 30 unauthorised landfills in the territory of Almaty. At that time, for violations of environmental waste management requirements, the deputy akims of the Medeu and Turksib districts, as well as the head of the apparatus of the akim of the Alatau district, were brought to administrative responsibility.