Residents of the Ainabulak-2 neighbourhood, during a meeting with the Akim of Almaty Yerbolat Dossayev, complained about the operations of an asphalt concrete plant that is harming the local environment.
According to the Kazinform International News Agency, they claim that in the morning and evening hours a pungent odour emanates from the facility, making it impossible to air out their homes. Local residents asked the Akim to move the plant outside the city or install a purification filter to prevent the spread of the smell.
In response, Yerbolat Dossayev assured that the city administration is monitoring compliance with sanitary standards at the asphalt concrete plant. He reported that negotiations are already underway with the owner regarding the relocation of the facility.
"In winter, the plant does not operate actively, but during the warm season, when the road construction season begins, it operates. This is the only such plant in the city. <...> We must take into account the capabilities of the plant's owner so that he can invest in the relocation, and we, in turn, must provide the land and necessary infrastructure. The work has begun, and we will continue it… We will carry out the work now, and we hope that by the end of the year we will have some picture of our joint plans together with the owner," said the Akim.
According to Dossayev, he has ordered that, until a decision on the plant's relocation is made, the owners consider the possibility of installing additional filters.
"Unfortunately, as of today, I cannot risk the plant, because we cannot simply transport asphalt concrete from elsewhere, as it has the property of cooling down, that is, temperature regimes matter, and historically in the city it has not worked out for plants to be differentiated and new ones built, so this one remains the only one in the city," added the Akim.