A livestock burial pit costing 38 million tenge in the settlement of Bestobe, Akmola Region, was found to be in an unsatisfactory condition less than a year after construction was completed. Local residents reported open gates, a lack of security, and animal remains scattered outside the facility.
WHAT THE VILLAGERS DISCOVERED
According to the Telegram channel «HALYQSTAN», the facility, intended for burying dead animals and preventing the spread of dangerous infections, is currently unguarded. Footage published by residents shows the gates of the burial pit are open and the concrete cover of the burial chamber has been moved.
Local residents also reported that animal remains are lying outside the facility. According to them, stray dogs and birds can freely enter the area, which could create sanitary risks.
«Good intentions end up like this,» residents say in a video filmed near the facility.
WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT SAID
The construction department of the city of Stepnogorsk stated that the facility was completed in 2025. According to the department, all construction and installation work was carried out in accordance with the approved design and estimate documentation.
The construction department also clarified that a site meeting was held with the participation of residents and representatives of the local community. During the discussion, residents proposed making changes to the entrance layout, equipping an additional pit, and strengthening the fence of the livestock burial pit.
The department stated that these proposals are being reviewed in line with current regulatory requirements.
WHY THE SITUATION IS CAUSING CONCERN AMONG RESIDENTS
The issue of the condition of livestock burial pits in Kazakhstan has previously been raised at the level of the Ministry of Agriculture. Minister Aidarbek Saparov reported that burials of animals that died from anthrax, which do not meet sanitary and biological requirements, remain in the country's regions.
Against this background, residents of Bestobe associate the state of the local livestock burial pit with risks to sanitary safety. Previously, cases of anthrax infection after contact with infected animals and burial sites have been recorded in Kazakhstan.
For instance, in July 2025, in the Atbasar district of the Akmola region, a quarantine was imposed in two villages after 19 people were infected, with one of the victims in a serious condition.