OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2014. Water from Sorbulak can flood the route Almaty-Astana and many residential places in the event of excessive rainfall. This has been announced by Kazakh Vice Minister of Energy Talgat Akhsambiyev at an enlarged meeting of the Committee on Ecology and Environment of the Majilis.

"Conclusions of research studies have shown that the supply of storage tank "Sorbulak" is minimal, and the water level is gradually approaching the critical point. In the event of excessive rain and gale-force winds, or earthquake, as the storage tank is in a seismic zone, dam failure may occur that can lead to overflowing of highway Almaty-Astana and residential places," T. Akhsambiyev said.

Vice Minister noted that the intensive development of Almaty city, the growth of the population of the metropolis and surrounding residential places of Almaty region in recent years lead to a sharp increase in discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater in the sewage lake "Sorbulak", used more than 40 years already.

According T. Akhsambiyev reconstruction project of Lake Storage tank includes three stages. The design work on reconstruction of Sorbulak tap channel with constructions and water separator continued down to 45 kilometers are considered for the first stage. At the same time, the cost of the first stage of construction is 1 billion 389 million tenge. The design work on the reconstruction of dams №1 and №2 with storage facilities "Sorbulak" are considered for the second stage. The cost of the second stage – 413 million 885 thousand tenge. The design work on the reconstruction of the right bank of the Sorbulak channel with 5 settling ponds and accidental discharges into the river Ili are planned for the third stage. The cost of the third stage – 1 billion 28 thousand 906 tenge.

Rehabilitation issues of reservoirs Shchuchinsk-Borovsky resort and reconstruction of lake-wastewater storage tank "Sorbulak" were discussed during the meeting. T. Akhsambiyev reported that the new integrated project documentation for cleaning ponds Shchuchinsk-Borovsky resort was developed.

"In addition to mechanical cleaning of lakes, measures for rehabilitation of lakes are also provided, which are aimed at preventing recontamination by the detention of pollutants - withholding grating will be constructed, special trench will be dug, necessary parts will be planted with grass, and for biological treatment of the lakes water," Vice Minister said.

According to him, the works provided by the project are seasonal. Beginning of work is scheduled for April 2015 on the lake Karasu, on the lakes Shchuchye and Borovoe- - also in 2015.