Published 07.04.2021 The Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan has established a flood prevention commission to prevent flood threats. This was announced today by Vice-Minister Serik Kozhaniyazov at a briefing in the Central Communications Service.
According to the deputy head of the department, according to hydrometeorological observations, there is currently an intensive process of snow melting almost throughout the territory of Kazakhstan. The snow cover has completely disappeared in the Kyzylorda, Atyrau and Mangistau regions, as well as in the plains of Turkestan, Zhambyl and Almaty regions. According to him, if in the flat part of the country there is a threat of flooding only in the spring period of high water, then in the mountainous part of the country the risks of flooding will persist throughout the period of snowmelt in the mountains.
"Due to the preservation of the general negative temperature background, the process of snow melting in March was slower than usual, in this regard, snow reserves are still preserved in the Karaganda, Akmola, North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan regions. In case of sudden changes in weather conditions, namely, a sharp increase in the temperature background and heavy precipitation in these regions, local flooding may occur, " Serik Kozhaniyazov said.
At the same time, he noted that this year, large-scale flood flooding of a natural nature is not expected.
According to Serik Kozhaniyazov, in order to prepare hydraulic structures of the republican property for the passage of flood waters and to take preventive measures to prevent damage from the consequences of floods, schedules for the passage of flood waters have been developed for each reservoir, depending on the filling of the reservoirs and the expected receipts.
"A flood control commission has been created under the Water Resources Committee, similar commissions have been created in the RSE "Kazvodkhoz" and in all its branches. Before the beginning of the flood period, a reserve of free tanks in reservoirs is provided for the accumulation of flood waters and maneuverability in case of intense flooding. Today, the average filling capacity of large reservoirs is 70-75%. If they are filled to the design volume and large floodwaters arrive, they will operate in transit mode, " he said.
At the same time, daily monitoring of the operation mode of reservoirs has been established, and round-the-clock shifts have been organized at all republican facilities. In dangerous areas, the necessary stocks of construction and other inert materials have been prepared to prevent a breakthrough, as well as appropriate equipment and mechanisms have been prepared.
"Taking into account the large volume of snow that has fallen, in the event of a sharp snowmelt, the implementation of significant costs of water discharges from reservoirs is inevitable. Therefore, local executive bodies need to speed up and strengthen the work to increase their capacity to divert the runoff discharged from reservoirs from settlements. Measures to increase the free capacity, only in combination with the cleaning of the riverbeds can give a full-fledged effect of accident-free passage of the flood, " Serik Kozhaniyazov stressed.