09 January 2024, 15:50
The Ministry of Emergency Situations together with interested state bodies started preparations for the upcoming flood period in advance. This was announced by the head of the Ministry Syrym Sharipkhanov at the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.
According to him, an unscheduled meeting of the Interdepartmental State Commission on the results of implementation of the Roadmap of flood control measures for 2021-2023 was held on December 26, 2023. To date, 57.7% of the planned measures have been implemented. The remaining 92 measures are in the process of implementation. In a number of regions, construction works continue.
"The Ministry of Water Resources is developing a design and construction plan for the construction of the Yesil counter-regulator in Akmola region. Also, the majority of unfinished projects on your instruction, akimats transferred to the comprehensive plans of socio-economic development and development plans of regions until 2025. There are concerns about the implementation of 27 of them. Especially it concerns Pavlodar, Aktobe and North-Kazakhstan regions. Due to non-fulfillment of the Roadmap activities by the mentioned regions, the Presidential Administration has determined the final deadline for implementation until the end of this year," the Minister noted.
The analysis of the last year showed that mainly the houses built in close proximity to the riverbeds, as well as located in water protection strips and low-lying areas were subjected to waterlogging.
For example, it is not the first year in the flood zone residential houses in the village of Karamyrza, Kostanay region. Last year in West Kazakhstan region due to a sharp rise in the water level in the Shyngyrlau River, houses in the nearby villages of Kentubek and Baktyaral were flooded. In the town of Arys, Turkestan region, the affected houses are located in the territory of water protection strips, and dwellings in the village of Kobda, Aktobe region, are built in a low-lying part.
"Currently, the placement of structures in water protection belts is a widespread problem. As a result, the state makes compensation payments to citizens affected by floods. In this regard, I believe it is necessary for akimats to ensure the protection of these settlements as a priority, or consider the possibility of their resettlement, and further prohibit construction in these areas," the head of the Ministry for Emergency Situations emphasized.
Another reason for the flooding of settlements, he called the possible destruction of hydraulic structures. Of the available more than 1.5 thousand objects, about 300 are potentially threatening, most of them are not equipped with local warning systems for the population.
"It should be noted that only 76 hydraulic structures are subject to inspection by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In this regard, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, as well as akimats need to equip hydraulic structures with local warning systems. The next problem is flooding of roads as a result of overflows and their destruction due to unpreparedness for the flood, which leads to traffic disruptions," Syrym Sharipkhanov said.
2 such cases were recorded in December 2023 and January 2024 in Kostanay and West Kazakhstan regions.
In this regard, the Ministry of Transport together with akimats need to design and repair highways to create new roads or increase the capacity of existing culverts.
Minister of Emergency Situations, referring to the preliminary forecast of Kazgidromet, noted that in most regions of the country in January and February, the air temperature is predicted to be 1-2°C above the climatic norm. The amount of precipitation is also expected to be higher than normal. At the same time, snow coverage of territories in 5 regions is up to 70%, in 12 regions - over 90%.
"Therefore, southern regions, taking into account last year's flood in February, northern regions due to the likelihood of deep freezing of the ground due to a sharp drop in temperature and lack of snow cover in December, already now need to go into high alert mode. In order to promptly respond to possible complications of the flood situation, special groupings of forces and means of the state system of civil protection in the amount of more than 39 thousand people, about 11 thousand units of equipment, more than 500 swimming vehicles and more than 3 thousand motor pumps have been created. Aircrafts of Kazaviaspass JSC are in constant readiness in case of rapid transfer of forces and means, as well as emergency evacuation of the affected population. Military units of civil defense are also ready to participate in rescue operations," the Minister said.
Practical training of the management bodies, forces and means of civil protection will be carried out in the framework of the Republican command and staff exercise "Koktem-2024" with the headquarters of the management in Aktobe. The exercise is planned to hold a new format, without conventional demonstrations, with real practical actions, involving volunteers and the population. The focus will be on clearing snow from the backyards of socially vulnerable groups of the population.
Also, special attention will be paid to increasing the "Safety Culture" of citizens. Until February 5 and March 5 of this year RSE "Kazhydromet" will be presented preliminary and accurate forecasts, taking into account which will be adjusted grouping of forces and means for timely transfer and, if necessary, introduced reserve groups.
In order to prepare for the upcoming flood period and its stable passage, it is proposed to instruct regional akimats as follows:
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