In Aktau, residents of the Samal microdistrict have taken the developer of a controversial construction project to court. They claim the construction is being carried out in violation of regulations and threatens the area's infrastructure. The administrative court hearing was held on-site at the construction location on the coast of the Caspian Sea.
According to Lada.kz, the judge, court clerk, residents of neighbouring homes, and representatives of the construction company attended the on-site hearing.
The local residents claim the developer is trying to pass the project off as a 6-unit townhouse, although it was originally planned as a 20-unit apartment block.
The residents are convinced that company representatives are misleading them in order to eventually build a large building that will create serious problems for the microdistrict.
They fear that after occupancy there will be a shortage of water, gas, and electricity, as well as overloading of the sewage system and transport routes. Furthermore, the residential complex project approved 15 years ago did not provide for the construction of a building of this scale. According to residents, such a situation could only have occurred with a corrupt element involved.
Incidentally, at the beginning of the year the construction had already caused an outcry. Following complaints, work was suspended from February to May, but in June it resumed without explanation. Later, residents again sent requests asking for the project to be stopped.
It is noted that inquiries to the Department of State Architectural and Construction Control of the Mangystau Region went unanswered.
For context, as of August, the share of the 'shadow' market for shared-equity construction in Kazakhstan stood at 62.5%. These figures were provided by Kazakhstan Housing Company (KHC).
It was reported that in Aktau, Kokshetau, Konayev, Petropavlovsk, Taraz, Semey, Turkestan, Uralsk, Pavlodar, and Kyzylorda, not a single advertised residential complex had the relevant permits. In these cities, the share of the 'shadow' market is 100%.