In the East Kazakhstan region, non-working and dilapidated hydraulic structures began to be gradually decommissioned. We are talking about dams that do not perform their function and have not accumulated water for decades. But at the same time, they formally remain on the balance sheet and can «eat up» budget funds every year. This was reported by the Ertis Basin Inspectorate.
At least four such objects have been identified in the region: one each — in the Samara and Glubokovsky districts and 2 — in Shemonaikha. Their condition was recognized as unsafe and economically unfeasible for restoration. The anti-corruption service of East Kazakhstan region notes that the funds allocated for the maintenance of these dams were actually used in vain. Now the objects are subject to complete liquidation.
— We identified cases where money was allocated annually for old hydraulic structures, but in fact no maintenance was carried out. Moreover, water has not accumulated in them for a long time. At the same time, many functioning dams are in unsatisfactory condition and need urgent repairs,” Denis Shakenov, head of the regional department of the Anti-Corruption Agency, commented on the situation.
Based on the results of the inspections, it turned out that out of 132 dams and dams registered in the region, 89 require major repairs. Surveys have shown that their wear rate reaches 60–70%, and in some cases approaches 90%.
At the same time, most of these structures continue to perform an important function — providing water supply to agricultural land, promoting the development of irrigated agriculture and protecting populated areas from floods. It is precisely such objects that should become a priority for financing and control, experts are sure.
However, today at the local level there are not always resources and competencies to service them. District akimats often do not have hydraulic engineering specialists who could monitor the water balance and technical condition of facilities.
—In spring, no one knows how much water is supplied, how much is consumed, or whether a given structure can hold volumes. There are no necessary personnel, no control. Therefore, we decided to transfer some of the facilities to the jurisdiction of a professional organization servicing hydraulic structures in the region, which has the necessary staff,” said Yernar Madiev, deputy head of the Ertis Basin Inspectorate.
We are talking about 24 hydraulic structures that are planned to be removed from the balance sheet of district akimats and transferred to a utility company «Shygys su Koimalary». Centralized management is expected to enable regular technical inspection, rapid response to threats and more efficient allocation of water resources.
Previously, the relevant instructions were sent to the regional akimat. The departments emphasize: we are talking not only about rational spending of the budget, but also about the safety of residents and preserving the water potential of the region.
It was previously reported that more than 130 hydraulic structures in Kazakhstan will undergo a multifactor inspection.
Nelly Nigmatullina (Kazinform)
