“We cannot influence the climate“ - Akim on polluted air in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Tengrinews.kz - The environmental situation in Ust-Kamenogorsk remains challenging. The mayor of the East Kazakhstan region (EKR), Yermek Kosherbayev, explained what is happening in the city.
During a government meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov asked the mayor of EKR what actions were being taken to address the air pollution problem in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Yermek Kosherbayev replied that the environmental situation in Ust-Kamenogorsk is influenced by both climatic and anthropogenic factors: the city's location in a mountainous basin and fog formation due to two non-freezing rivers.

"Regardless of the temperature, these rivers do not freeze. Temperature changes lead to fog formation. Also, (the situation is influenced by) the lack of wind for about 180 days a year, 100 of which are considered unfavorable meteorological conditions. Currently, there are 10 large enterprises operating in the city. Air pollution is also caused by automobile transport and smoke from private houses. Depending on our climate, the heating season lasts about 200 days out of the 365 days a year," said Yermek Kosherbayev .

According to Kosherbayev, about 49 thousand tons of waste, which pollute the air, are emitted in Ust-Kamenogorsk today. The largest share comes from industrial enterprises and the thermal power plant.

"We have decided that a surrounding pool system will be installed throughout the city. And over a certain period of time, we will get clear dynamics and accurate data on what exactly is happening. We cannot influence the climate or relocate historical industrial sites at the moment. Some people say that these enterprises should be shut down, but it's clear that this is more populism," said the mayor of the region.

According to the official, the enterprises should continue to install modern monitoring and control systems to prevent a reduction in emissions.
Complaints from Ust-Kamenogorsk residents
Recall that residents of Ust-Kamenogorsk have complained about deteriorating health: a sore throat, cough, noticeable decline in well-being, including headaches, eye irritation, nausea, and even fever. Local environmentalists confirmed the excess of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of hydrogen chloride in the air.