Winter is in full swing, which means another spring flood cannot be ruled out. What are the akimats of the affected regions of Kazakhstan doing to avoid the consequences of a natural disaster next year?

West Kazakhstan region

The West Kazakhstan region, along the Zhaiyk River, is considered one of the most affected regions and suffered great material damage during the spring flood. According to the press service of the regional akim, 5,927 houses were damaged, of which 2,828 were declared unsafe. The damage caused to energy facilities is estimated at 1.4 billion tenge. 11 social facilities were also damaged. The akimat took into account the mistakes and immediately began recovery. Some of the work has been completed, and projects are still being prepared for some. Thus, a major overhaul of 6 social facilities has been carried out until December, and work is currently underway on the remaining 5.

In total, there are 39 hydraulic engineering facilities in the region. During floods, 6 of them were declared unsafe: 3 — in the Terektinsky district, 2 — in Burlinsky, 1 — in Karatoba. But now they have all been restored.

— Design and estimate documentation is being developed for the reconstruction of another 14 reservoirs. 9 will be ready by the end of the year, the remaining — in 2025. In addition, 23 projects for the construction of culverts have been prepared, 1 billion tenge has been allocated from the regional reserve, — was answered by the akimat.

Aktobe region

In this area, several villages in the Irgiz and Khromtau regions were flooded with water. Obsolete reservoirs and dams are to blame. Thus, on April 5, due to lack of proper maintenance, the dam of the Magadzhan reservoir in Aktobe burst. It was transferred to the entrepreneur in trust for fisheries. As a result, 3 villages of the Khromtau region and dachas located near Aktobe went under water. The dam, which discharged 15.8 million cubic meters of water, was commissioned in 1985 and has not been maintained since then.

According to the akimat of the Aktobe region, there are currently 206 hydraulic structures in municipal ownership of the region, of which 10 are of republican significance (3 reservoirs, 2 dams, 5 estuary irrigation), 174 are in public utilities (2 reservoirs, 147 dams, 25 protective dams), and 22 (6 reservoirs, 16 dams) — are privately owned.

In total, 15 hydraulic structures were destroyed in the region during the 2024 floods. The reconstruction work is in full swing.

— At the moment, dams have been restored in the Temir region «Black Defense», «Kesem» and «Terencey». Construction and installation work has begun to restore another 19 protective dams and strengthen river banks, the akimat reported.

The Aktobe Reservoir, with a capacity of 245 million cubic kilometers of water, now has 53 million cubic kilometers of water. This means that, if necessary, the reservoir is ready to receive water. But, according to the akimat, it has not undergone major repairs since 1988. Taking this into account, specialists have begun reconstruction, which is nearing its planned completion. The tank, which has been modernized taking into account hydrological standards, will subsequently be used for fishery purposes.

Atyrau region

3 districts of the Atyrau region, especially the city of Kulsary, were seriously damaged by floods. Now the damage has been compensated, and the residents who lost their homes have moved into new houses. According to the press service of the regional akim, 32 kilometers of the Kursai canal have been cleared and deepened in Kulsary by November. Similar work began last month on the Zhem River. 1.5 kilometers of coast deepened, with a total length of 55 kilometers.

— It is planned to build 58 km of defensive dam. By the beginning of November, 24 kilometers of them had already been built. Also, the institution «Tabigat» was created to manage the water management structures of the region.

The head of the Atyrau region, Serik Shapkenov, who reported to the Government at the beginning of last month, said that work is underway to bring to the balance of the region 590 km of dams erected during the flood. By spring, it is planned to check the quality of these dams and, if necessary, strengthen the newly built ones.

The mouth of the Zhaiyk River, which flows into the Caspian Sea, is deepening. In the Kurmangazinsky district, the Kigash River is being cleared. According to the authorities of the «region, systematic preparations for floods are underway».

Akmola region

In 174 settlements, 65 kilometers of culverts were dug, 38 kilometers of river beds were cleared. Another 34 kilometers were widened and deepened. 110 kilometers of dams have been strengthened and 21 kilometers of new dams have been erected.

— Very active work is underway. All pipes are cleaned. Additional water posts have been built in 9 settlements to monitor water levels. Currently, floodgates for defense are being installed in the city of Atbasar. This reduces the risk of flooding of approximately 400 homes. Also, due to the acquisition of a dredger, the bottom of 2.5 km of the Zhabay River in the Atbasar region was deepened to 5 meters, — was reported by the local akimat.

4.3 kilometers of the Kylshakty River have been cleared. According to the proposals of residents, a bypass canal with a total length of 8 km was built in the village of Talapker and Koyandy, Tselinograd district, to drain melt water.

In the Bulandynsky district, a major overhaul of the dam is underway, and in the Arshalynsky district —, reconstruction of the protective dam of the «Anar» station is underway. The dams «Kara-Adyr», «Suburban» in Shortandinsky and «Red Star» in the Astrakhan region are also being strengthened.

A 3-kilometer-long protective structure has been installed in Kokshetau. In addition, it is planned to repair 3 hydraulic facilities, clean and strengthen the banks of the Zhabay, Chaglinka and Coluton rivers.

North Kazakhstan region

In the region, work to protect Petropavlovsk is in full swing, since the first auxiliary pumping station was damaged during the spring flood. Moreover, the ice that came with water collapsed the columns of the energy supply power grid, and the city was left without water.

Last month it was reported that the pumping station had been completely renovated. But according to the director of «Kyzylzhar su» LLP Zhenis Sultanov, there is still a lot of work. In the first ten days of December, it is planned to supply pumping units for shut-off valves.

— In our region, gabion is used for strengthening work for the first time. The height of the dam protecting the strategic facility will be 4 meters. Work on laying backup underground cables has been completed. An 800 kW diesel generator will be installed, — he said.

Aigul Esenalieva (Kazinform)