Illegal construction being sanctioned over legitimate home improvements: Anti-Corruption agency uncovers various contraventions in Almaty
It seems corruption has reared its ugly head in Almaty's land and urban development sectors, according to the Anti-Corruption Service. Here's the lowdown on the situation:
- Unchecked Urbanization: The city's general plan hasn't been updated since 2011, leading to construction chaos in environmentally sensitive zones and near waterways. The authorities are ignoring the expertise of ecologists, sanitation, and emergency services.
- Land Use shenanigans: Local officials have taken it upon themselves to alter the purpose of land use at their whim. instead of garden plots, they're building multi-apartment residences. This switcharoo allows them to sidestep paying the difference in cadastral value.
- Private Land Grab: Government officials have been playing favorites, granting land for investment projects without tenders. By using fictitious transactions, these plots are then bought in private ownership, robbing the state of potential profits.
According to the Anti-Corruption Service, construction processes are swimming in corruption, as local officials manipulate laws to favor unscrupulous builders. The lack of proper regulations gives these builders free rein, as seen in the construction of residential complexes and commercial objects on land intended for recreational use. Violations such as constructions deviating from the original plans,a higher-than-permitted building heights, and excessive construction densities, are rampant.
State control over construction is weak, with few penalties imposed for building without permission. The absence of consequences has led to a culture of tolerance for illegal construction.
The Anti-Corruption Service has taken action by submitting a 58-point plan to address these issues and is investigating eight criminal cases related to corruption. The Service also suggests a new general plan for Almaty until 2040, which includes returning 229 hectares of land from the residential zone to the recreational zone.
On a broader scale, Kazakhstan ranks 93rd in the Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating significant levels of perceived corruption. Corruption remains a contentious issue in the country, with recent calls for transparency and accountability. Projects like the pasture reclamation initiative may expose corruption risks in large-scale development ventures if not properly managed. These larger trends suggest that Almaty is not an isolated case of corruption in land and urban development sectors.
In light of the ongoing corruption issues, it's crucial to examine the policy-and-legislation surrounding Almaty's land and urban development sectors, as the lack of proper regulations and enforcement has allowed for political manipulations and illegal constructions. The recent investigations conducted by the Anti-Corruption Service highlight the need for more transparency and accountability in Kazakhstan's politics, particularly in the general-news arena related to urbanization and land use practices.
