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The head of the West Kazakhstan Department of the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interbasin Inspection for the regulation of water resource use and protection of the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Otegaliyev, stated that inspections regarding this matter have been conducted multiple times, but they have not managed to catch those responsible for filling the water body at the scene.

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– This pond, located in the United Garden Society, fills with meltwater during the flooding of the Chagan River and is considered a water body of the Chagan floodplain. We received a complaint in September about the lake being filled, and we initiated an inspection, but by the time we arrived, the machinery was already gone. We were shown video evidence that work had indeed been carried out before. We recorded that part of the water body had been filled in from the banks. According to the Water Code, any work in the water protection zone must be coordinated with the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interbasin Inspection, but we did not issue any permit for this lake. We found out that the area where the pond is located was granted to private individuals around 2010-2011. Whether the issuance of the plots was coordinated, I do not know; we do not issue land. There are several plots with cadastral numbers, and we have currently requested information about the owners from the Government for Citizens National Company. We currently have no one to hold accountable since we only have video evidence of the filling, where neither the tractor's number nor the person conducting the work is visible. To conduct a repeat inspection, we need grounds and agreements with the supervisory authority, – explained Kanat Otegaliyev.

The head of the public environmental association, Telegei Daurenbek Sakhym, noted that if the plots were not used for their intended purpose, the state has the right to reclaim them.

– The land is located within the territory of a gardening society, which means there should be dachas and gardens, and if nothing is being planted there, the plots need to be reclaimed. Because the lands were issued without considering the geography of the area and gardening is not feasible there, the state should simply issue other plots in exchange. Moreover, this water body should be legalized and preserved as a lake; we do not have many lakes to fill in, – emphasized the public figure.

Specialists from the Natural Resources and Environmental Regulation Department of West Kazakhstan highlighted that this water body was included in the list of fishery water bodies by a decree from the Akimat of West Kazakhstan, and a passport for the object was prepared by the department.

– This water body was not assigned to an economic entity. We previously visited the site where the filling was taking place, but we were expelled, being told that this land is private property. We sent a letter to the police department to stop the filling, but we have not received any response to date. We also contacted the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interbasin Inspection to halt the filling. By a decree of the Akimat, water protection zones and strips were allocated along the Chagan River, with the water protection zone being 500 meters wide. According to the law, any work must be conducted only with the coordination of the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interbasin Inspection. Earlier this year, a letter was sent to the Natural Resources Department requesting the exclusion of this water body from the list, based on a letter from the Fishery Committee stating that this water body is unsuitable for fish farming. Now it is being determined that this is private land. However, according to the letter from the Committee, we cannot exclude it; a court process and a court decision may be required, – said the deputy head of the Natural Resources and Environmental Regulation Department, Darkhan Zakarin.

The chairman of the West Kazakhstan Ecological and Geographical Society, Darkhan Sariyev, pointed out that such confusion and the lenient attitude of the land department have led to floodplain lands ending up in private hands.

– All floodplain lands have been distributed or sold, and what do we have now? The landowners are cutting down floodplain forests, which are crucial for maintaining the hydrological balance of the rivers. A similar situation exists with the plots near the children's zoo, where everything has already been cut down and built upon. In the area of the Stella, it turns out there are also plots in private ownership that are within the water protection strip. No work is being done to reclaim these lands, – expressed the public activist.

Overall, following the meeting, representatives of the natural resources department expressed their position in favor of preserving the water body, which was supported by representatives of the eco-community.

The head of the Ecology Department of West Kazakhstan, Murat Ermekkaliev, emphasized that according to the Environmental Code, any economic activity must undergo an environmental assessment.

– In accordance with Article 68 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the economic entity must submit an application for the intended economic activity, based on which it will be determined whether this activity requires an environmental impact assessment or a screening. Based on the results, the Department of Ecology or the Natural Resources Department will issue a permit depending on the category. We issue permits for the first category, while the Natural Resources Department does so for the second; for the third category, a declaration of impact is required, and for the fourth category, nothing is needed. In this case, economic activity is being conducted in the water protection zone, so the environmental impact assessment procedure, which includes public hearings, must be followed. No one has approached our Department of Ecology for a permit regarding this object, – explained the chief ecologist of the region.

Acting Vice-Rector for Scientific Work and International Relations of the M.Utemisov West Kazakhstan University, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Professor Kazhmurat Akhmedenov.

“A characteristic feature of floodplain lakes is the dependence of their water regime on floods. In spring, lakes are flooded with floodwaters, and in summer, they are disconnected from the river. Floodplain lakes play a crucial role in the life of river ecosystems, regulating river flow, retaining water in their basins, and releasing it during other periods. They serve as unique natural reservoirs, collecting surface and subsurface runoff from watersheds and concentrating the majority of water. Floodplain lakes create favorable conditions for the growth of riparian and aquatic vegetation and provide habitat for many aquatic and semi-aquatic birds, as well as semi-aquatic mammals. Typically, floodplain lakes are narrow and have a horseshoe shape, with depths ranging from 2 to 10 meters, and the water is always fresh. Additionally, the floodplain is usually occupied by woody and shrub vegetation and meadows, which helps to retain moisture in winter. Most hydrochemical indicators of floodplain lakes are similar to the quality indicators of rivers.”

“First, they drained it, now they are filling it in”

Following the meeting, it was decided to visit the site to assess the situation. Residents of the United Garden Society provided a video showing pumps removing water from the lake, followed by footage of those pumps being hastily dismantled. Upon the arrival of eco-activists, the pumps were already gone, but the scale of the filling of what was once a wide and beautiful water body was evident; the trees growing along the edges testified to where the pond's banks had been. A large portion of it has already been filled in and compacted. According to local residents and photographs taken earlier between 2019-2021, the lake was full of water, where swans nested and fish and other aquatic life thrived.

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– Before all this construction began nearby, this lake would freely fill with water from the Chagan River during floods; there is a special pipe through which water flowed in. Water would remain here all summer, and in the fall, after the Chagan River was drained, some water would naturally exit, but a lot remained. There were bottom springs feeding the lake, so we never observed fish kills in winter; in addition, local residents would bore holes to prevent fish deaths. Any local elder can confirm that fish thrived here; we all fished. After the construction of the entertainment complex began nearby, the pipe that allowed water to naturally flow in and out of the lake was blocked, and for two years, water was not allowed in. We approached every possible authority, but no one intervened to stop this nonsense, and the lake began to dry up. Swans, which come here every year, and ducks now find their home filled in. The Chagan River's channel was closer, trees grew there, and water would freely enter the lake during floods, but now all the trees have been uprooted, an embankment has been built, everything has been concreted, and VIP cabins have been constructed; water cannot enter. Even after all this, the lake held on thanks to the bottom springs. This year, water flowed into the lake through our plots, flooding us all; water flowed through my yard and remained for almost two months. This had never happened before; as long as the Chagan River's channel had not been filled in and narrowed, we were never flooded; water would quietly enter