Are the regions of Kazakhstan ready for floods?

Winter is in full swing, which means that the next spring floods are not excluded. What are the akimats of the affected regions of Kazakhstan doing to avoid the consequences of a natural disaster next year?

West Kazakhstan region

The West Kazakhstan region, along the Zhaiyk River, is considered one of the most affected regions and suffered great material damage during the spring flood. According to the press service of the akim of the region, 5,927 houses were damaged, of which 2,828 were recognized as emergency. The damage caused to energy facilities is estimated at 1.4 billion tenge. 11 social facilities were also affected. The akimat took into account the mistakes and immediately began the restoration. Some of the work has been completed, and projects are still being prepared for some of them. So, until December, 6 social facilities have been overhauled, while work is still underway on the remaining 5.

There are a total of 39 hydraulic engineering facilities in the region. During the floods, 6 of them were recognized as emergency: 3 — in the Terekta district, 2 — in Burlinsky, 1 — in Karatoba. But now they are all restored.

— Design and estimate documentation for the reconstruction of another 14 reservoirs is being developed. 9 will be ready by the end of the year, the rest — in 2025. In addition, 23 projects for the construction of culverts have been prepared, 1 billion tenge has been allocated from the regional reserve,” the akimat replied.

Aktobe region

In this area, several villages of Irgiz and Khromtau districts were flooded with water. Outdated reservoirs and dams are to blame for everything. So, on April 5, due to lack of proper care, the dam of the Magadzhansky reservoir in Aktobe burst. It was transferred to the entrepreneur in trust management for fisheries. As a result, 3 villages of the Khromtau district and cottages located near Aktobe went under water. The dam, which discharged 15.8 million cubic meters of water, was commissioned in 1985 and has not been serviced since.

According to the Akimat of Aktobe region, there are currently 206 hydraulic structures in the communal ownership of the region, of which 10 are of national importance (3 reservoirs, 2 dams, 5 estuary irrigation), 174 are in public utilities (2 reservoirs, 147 dams, 25 protective dams), and 22 (6 reservoirs, 16 plotinus) — privately owned.

In total, during the floods of 2024, 15 hydraulic structures were destroyed in the region. The restoration work is in full swing.

— At the moment, the dams “Black Defense”, “Kesem” and “Terensai” have been restored in the Temir district. Construction and installation work has begun to restore another 19 protective dams and strengthen the banks of rivers, the akimat reported.

The Aktobe reservoir, with a capacity of 245 million cubic kilometers of water, now has 53 million cubic kilometers of water. This means that, if necessary, the reservoir is ready to receive water. But it, according to the akimat, has not been overhauled since 1988. Taking this into account, specialists have started reconstruction, which is nearing its planned completion. The reservoir, which has been modernized taking into account hydrological standards, will be used in the future for fisheries purposes.

Atyrau region

3 districts of Atyrau region, especially the city of Kulsary, were seriously affected by floods. Now the damage has been compensated, and the residents who lost their homes have moved into new houses. According to the press service of the akim of the region, 32 kilometers of the Kursai canal have been cleaned and deepened in Kulsary by November. Similar work began last month on the Zhem River. 1.5 kilometers of the coast have been deepened, with a total length of 55 kilometers.

— It is planned to build 58 km of defensive dam. By the beginning of November, 24 kilometers of them have already been built. Also, the Tabigat institution has been established to manage water facilities in the region.

The head of Atyrau region Serik Shapkenov, who reported to the Government at the beginning of last month, said that work is underway to bring 590 km of dams erected during the flood to the balance of the region. Until spring, it is planned to check the quality of these dams and, if necessary, strengthen the newly erected ones.

The mouth of the Zhaiyk River, which flows into the Caspian Sea, deepens. The Kigash River is being cleaned in Kurmangazinsky district. According to the authorities of the region, “systematic preparation for floods is underway.”

Akmola region

65 kilometers of culverts have been dug in 174 settlements, 38 kilometers of riverbeds have been cleaned. Another 34 kilometers have been expanded and deepened. 110 kilometers of dams have been strengthened and 21 kilometers of new dams have been erected.

— Very active work is underway. All pipes are cleaned. Additional hydro posts have been built in 9 settlements to control the water level. Gateways for defense are currently being installed in the city of Atbasar. This reduces the risk of flooding of about 400 homes. Also, due to the acquisition of a dredger, the bottom of 2.5 km of the Zhabai River in the Atbasar district has been deepened to 5 meters, the local akimat reported.

4.3 kilometers of the Kylshakty River have been cleared. According to the suggestions of residents, a bypass canal with a total length of 8 km has been built in the village of Talapker and Koyandy, Tselinograd district, to divert meltwater.

The dam is being overhauled in the Bulandyn district, and the protective dam of the Anar station is being reconstructed in the Arshaly district. The dams “Kara-Adyr”, “Prigorodnoye” in Shortandinsky and “Krasnaya Zvezda” in Astrakhan district are also being strengthened.

A protective structure with a length of 3 kilometers has been installed in Kokshetau. In addition, it is planned to repair 3 hydraulic engineering facilities, clean and strengthen the banks of the Zhabai, Chaglinka and Koluton rivers.

North Kazakhstan region

In the region, work is in full swing to protect Petropavlovsk, as the first auxiliary pumping station was damaged during the spring flood. Moreover, the ice that came with the water brought down the columns of the power supply network, and the city was left without water.

Last month it was reported that the pumping station has been completely renovated. But according to Zhenis Sultanov, director of Kyzylzhar Su LLP, there is still a lot of work to do. Delivery of shut-off valve pumping units is planned in the first decade of December.

— Gabion is used for fortification works for the first time in our region. The height of the dam protecting the strategic object will be 4 meters. The work on laying backup underground cables has been completed. An 800 kW diesel generator will be installed,” he said.

Aigul Esenalieva (Kazinform)