20 new dams to be built in Kazakhstan
20 new dams to be built in Kazakhstan
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that by building 20 new dams, they aim to significantly reduce the risk of flooding of 134 settlements in the future.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the 33rd General Session of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan held in Astana with the theme "Unity, creation, progress".
Noting that Kazakhstan is facing a severe ordeal due to floods, Tokayev said: "We are faced with a devastating natural disaster that has affected half of the country."
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev drew attention to the unity and cohesion of the people in these difficult days and said: "The spirit of unity and solidarity surrounded every region of the country."
Stating that thanks to authorized state institutions and volunteers, they promptly evacuated more than 119 thousand people from flooded areas, including 45 thousand children, and that they managed to save the lives of many people, Tokayev said that infrastructure and repair work had begun in some flood zones.
Stating that no victim of a natural disaster will be deprived of state support, Tokayev said: "We will reduce budget expenditures for urgent tasks to eliminate the consequences of floods. An austerity regime will be imposed on public funds in the country."
Pointing out that the construction of all dams in the country in the last century and the lack of modern water-regulating structures led to the further spread of floods, Tokayev noted that 20 new dams will be built in Kazakhstan, thereby significantly reducing the risk of flooding of 134 villages.
Floods in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has been fighting floods since the end of March, when the snow melts. Due to the floods affecting the western, northern and central parts of the country, a "local emergency" was declared in many states.
The President of Kazakhstan Tokayev said that the floods they faced were the largest natural disaster in the last 80 years.
More than 119,000 people were rescued from flood zones, and 31,416 returned to their homes. More than 5 thousand houses were flooded in Akmola, Aktobe, Atyrau, Kostanay and North Kazakhstan regions.
5 people died due to floods, and more than 8 thousand farm animals died in areas affected by the disaster.
