Deputy of the Mazhilis, Sergey Ponomarev, has addressed Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov with a request expressing concern over the issues facing Almaty, as reported by Tengrinews.kz correspondent.
Ponomarev's inquiry is linked to the challenging environmental situation in Almaty.
"Today we are losing one of the most beautiful and soulful cities in the country – Almaty. By 2024, the ecological situation has reached a critical level: Almaty has entered the top five most polluted megacities in the world, ranking fifth among 120 major cities and leading the disgraceful list of air quality index. With such alarming indicators, residents are advised to limit their time outdoors, and those with heightened sensitivity are recommended to wear protective masks even in daily life. This is unacceptable for a modern megacity," - stated Sergey Ponomarev during a plenary session of the Mazhilis.
According to the deputy, estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that polluted air contributes to the development of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including stroke, heart attack, asthma, and lung cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable: dirty air lowers immunity, slows lung development, and increases the risk of respiratory illnesses. The delay in addressing this issue jeopardizes the health of millions of citizens.
The deputy acknowledged that the government is doing a lot: the megacity is almost fully gasified, and they promise to switch the CHPP-2 to gas by the end of 2026. However, measures to reduce harmful emissions are clearly insufficient. For instance, the problem of car emissions remains acute.
"In developed countries, issues regarding vehicle emissions are tackled using modern control methods. The head of state has announced a total digitalization, which is perfectly suited for solving Almaty's ecological problems," - noted Ponomarev.
The Mazhilis member mentioned that during a working trip he visited 19 eco-posts in Almaty, which, although they cover all entrances to the city, are ineffective. According to him, each post processes about four drivers daily, while up to 700 vehicles enter the city each day.
"Conclusion: either they don’t work at all, or they work for their own benefit. And it’s not even about filling the budget with fines, but rather about motivating drivers to install catalysts, repair internal combustion engines, carburetors, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions to normal levels. Eco-posts do not solve the assigned tasks; this farce only irritates drivers. At the post in the Karasu microdistrict, three employees, who regularly receive their salaries, turned on a primitive gas analyzer literally in front of me, claiming it freezes even in modest Almaty frosts. The police themselves complain that they have become scapegoats, while people do not repair their engines, but merely blame the police for draconian measures, naively believing that someone will come and magically solve all ecological problems," - the deputy recounted.
According to the deputy, the air in Almaty can now not only be seen and tasted, but even held in one’s hands – such is the concentration of harmful substances in it.
"According to official forecasts from urban planners, the Almaty agglomeration will grow to 7.5-8 million people in the coming decades. If drastic measures are not taken, we will end up in one big traffic jam and perish. Considering international experience, such as that of Beijing, we understand that bloodless measures, unfortunately, will not suffice. However, we have seen clean air in Almaty; that was during the pandemic, so we can and must achieve it again now," - emphasized Sergey Ponomarev.
In his request, the deputy put forward a series of specific demands, including: preparing a complete map of Almaty identifying the main sources of air pollution within six months; developing an interdepartmental plan to tackle Almaty's ecological disaster, including measures for transitioning to environmentally friendly fuels; eliminating eco-posts and, following the example of developed countries, installing modified surveillance cameras that capture excess emissions into the atmosphere with automatic issuance of minimal fines.
Additionally, Ponomarev demands to tighten the responsibility of organizations conducting vehicle technical inspections for issuing fake inspection certificates and to legally prohibit the purchase of catalysts for scrap.
Furthermore, the deputy suggests that starting in 2026, state and quasi-state organizations should be allowed to procure only electric vehicles, and the Almaty akimat should increase the share of public transport with electric engines; develop a three-year program for the phased transition of all taxis to electric vehicles; and permit the construction of environmentally friendly hydropower plants in the city's natural and national parks and the Almaty agglomeration.
It should be noted that last year a new urban planning regulation was approved in Almaty. According to it, the city was divided into zones for improving the ecological situation for the first time.
