The Akiм of Shymkent, Gabit Syzdykbekov, has commented on the possible transfer of the water supply company Water Resources-Marketing LLP from private ownership to the management of municipal city services.
According to Kazinform News Agency, the Akim had to state his position because water supply in the metropolis raises many questions among the public. The mayor emphasised that such a decision was prompted by the inefficient use of funds, which the company should have allocated in a timely manner to improve the quality of water supply.
Syzdykbekov noted that the Akimat does not intend to take the water utility away from one owner only to transfer it to another.
"Frankly speaking, the funds received by the company were not used for their intended purpose. As soon as inspections began, the company immediately became active and started urgently replacing and laying pipes. Law enforcement authorities are currently dealing with this matter, and as soon as the results are ready, we will definitely make them public. In time, the water utility will return to state ownership. I think Mr. Orman understands this as well," the Akim stated.
In turn, the company's director, Anarbek Orman, called the allegations unfounded. According to him, in order to draw any conclusions, one must first wait for the inspection to be completed.
"No one has made any specific accusations against me. I only hear rumours and talk. If there are such accusations, let them first be investigated and evidence provided. The inspection is still ongoing, so let us wait for it to conclude. Only then, if the fiscal and regulatory bodies identify violations, can we talk about accusations. I am ready to hand over the water utility, but only on legal grounds," stated Anarbek Orman.
Deputies of the city maslikhat also supported the idea of transferring the water utility to state ownership. They proposed organising an online platform for negotiations with the owner of the privatised asset.
It is worth recalling that in July, it became known that the Shymkent prosecutor's office had returned property and shares worth 5.9 billion tenge to the state over six months.
In June, the head of the Shymkent Anti-Corruption Agency department, Dauren Yergarin, wrote that they plan to bring the Ice Palace back under state control in Shymkent.
In December of last year, Gabit Syzdykbekov reported that the building of the Phosphorik Palace of Culture, previously owned by the convicted oligarch Tokhtar Tuleshov, had been taken onto the city's balance sheet and would be restored.