NEWS

Rolling up sleeves

Activists and environmentalists cleared the coast of Okunki lake from natural dumps. The reservoir is very beautiful and healing. It is well-deserved popular place of tourists and is located just 80 kilometers from Ust-Kamenogorsk. However, the collection and removal of garbage from here is practically not carried out.

During the beach season, mountains of waste grow every day. Vacationers do not bother and throw garbage right on the beach. Several tons of wastes have accumulated here this summer.


The most concerned people came out for the clean-up. They include representatives of the government, police, employees of public services, as well as volunteers. There were 24 people in total.


It is conservatively estimated that there are up to two thousand people here on weekends. If you consider that one family can leave up to 5 kilograms of waste after a holiday, the total figure looks frightening.



Usually, unused areas have turned into waste dumps. Once upon a time, the owners acquired land, but nothing was built on it. But now there are mountains of garbage that no one wants to clean up.



Activists say their action is just a drop in the ocean. But it shows that there are people in society who are ready not only to identify a serious problem, but to deal with it. Participants of the Saturday clean-up also intend to apply to the regional akimat to return the abandoned plots to the state Fund.

Author: Dmitry Krukovich
Photo: Yermek Imangazinov