Kazakhstani athletes oppose the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Koksu River. There, after a short break, construction work resumed.
The other day, representatives of the Rafting Federation of Kazakhstan visited Taldykorgan. According to them, they are outraged that new hydroelectric power stations will be built on the Koksu River.
— These hydroelectric power stations will destroy the fauna and flora there. As an athlete and president of the Rafting Federation, I consider these actions blasphemous. The builders promised us to create artificial speed on the river, but why change what was created by nature? Our sport requires a natural landscape.
We have currently prepared more than 10 – letters ranging from the prosecutor’s office to the Ministry of Sports. Some narrow-minded people tell us: “Why your rafting?” They do not understand that we glorify Kazakhstan, its nature and the uniqueness of the Koksu River, — is approved by the President of the Rafting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Konstantin O.
World rafting champion Almas Akelei is amazed at the greed of businessmen who want to benefit from nature, destroying its beauty and pristine nature.
— Construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Koksu River – absurd project. I love running through the mountains near Almaty. I see a lot of foreigners there. They say they come here because of our virgin nature. I competed in the Emirates. There, a mountain-type river was built among the desert.
The Arabs spend a lot of money to create such a river, but in our country nature created it, gave it to us, and we want to destroy it. Greedy people do this for personal gain. Moreover, they want to make money from our nature. In a beautiful place, they will simply stick a piece of concrete into the bottom of the river and destroy everything around, — sure Almas Akelei.
Deputy head of NPO “Green Solidarity” Aidar Khadzhimuratov recently visited the Kerbulak region near the village of Rudnichny, where two small hydroelectric power stations “Rudnichny-1” and “Rudnichny-2” will be built. He says that construction work has resumed there again, which was temporarily suspended on New Year’s Eve, after the noise of local residents and civil activists.
Aliya Akhmedieva (Ratel.kz)
