Petropavlovsk has begun the phased resettlement of residents from the Zarechny microdistrict, which regularly suffers from floods due to its proximity to the Ishim River. In the future, the district is planned to be completely freed from residential development. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Seventh Channel.
One of the first to receive new housing was 72-year-old Yevgenia Shelutkova. She lived in Zarechny for more than 30 years and will now move to a new two-room apartment.
"It's such a nerve-wracking experience, you worry in advance: what the water will be like, what will happen, how it will flood. Of course, we wait for spring very nervously. Now this will no longer affect us. Now we will live in peace," said Petropavlovsk resident Yevgenia Shelutkova.
A second multi-storey building has already been built for the resettlers. The first 90-apartment building was commissioned last year. Now 72 more families will receive new housing.
Another resident of the district, Uazipa Uvaisova, said that severe floods in Zarechny occurred in 2017 and 2024. According to her, every spring residents anxiously awaited the rise of water.
In total, 266 families live in the microdistrict. Just over ten of them refused to resettle. The process is carried out in stages, and in the near future the authorities plan to start construction of another residential building.
Akim of Petropavlovsk Serik Mukhamediyev said that private houses and barracks will be demolished after resettlement. Three-story buildings are planned to be kept for about another one to two years.
"For now, we are providing these houses to people in dire need as temporary housing so they can save money. But in general, we will gradually free the settlement," Mukhamediyev said.
The Zarechny microdistrict is located on the outskirts of Petropavlovsk along the Ishim River. In addition to residential and social facilities, there is a correctional institution. In the future, the colony is also planned to be moved to another location.