Residents of a village in the Almaty region demand a solution to an illegal landfill that has grown to several hectares over the years. Locals say household, construction, and hazardous waste are being dumped near residential areas. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to local resident Yuri Kurnosov, a few years ago the area was a flower field, but after the construction of a residential complex began, the territory gradually turned into an unauthorized dump.
"I have repeatedly noticed HOWO and KamAZ trucks coming here. Huge machines unload waste onto this area. Once the dump caught fire, and since then the garbage has been smoldering constantly. The smoke and stench are unbearable," he said.
According to residents, about five thousand people suffer from the landfill. Despite cleanup efforts and attempts to clear the area themselves, the volume of waste continues to grow.
Over an area of about four hectares, household garbage, old furniture, construction waste, and barrels with unknown contents have accumulated. A dark oily liquid is leaking from some containers. Additionally, animal carcasses have been found at the dump.
Local residents fear that the waste is polluting the nearby Yesentai River.
"Once people swam here, there were fish, pheasants, and other animals. Now garbage from the slope falls into the river, and nature is gradually disappearing," said district resident Yermek Serikuly.
It turned out that the plot is privately owned by a logistics company. According to Tulegen Omarov, akim of the Otegen Batyr rural district of Ili district, this fact complicates the solution.
"We sent an official letter to the landowner but have not received a response yet. We have also sent appeals to the authorized bodies. Further, the environmental police and the environmental prosecutor's office will handle this issue," the akim said.
He also promised that the problem would be resolved in the coming weeks. According to the official, the landowner may face a fine of at least 500,000 tenge.