Issyk-Kul is being filled in. Why?

‘Elizaveta’ and ‘Avangard’ are filling in the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Tamchy, whilst the Ministry of Natural Resources states that no environmental impact assessment has been carried out for this project. For its part, the Ministry of Construction states that the work is being carried out legally and is aimed at reinforcing the shoreline.

Construction work continues in the village of Tamchy on the shores of Issyk-Kul, which has caused a public outcry and raised questions about compliance with environmental legislation.

Activist Ertai Iskakov reported on social media that the coastal area is being filled with soil from excavation pits. According to him, the work is linked to projects by the companies ‘Elizaveta’, ‘Urpak Resort’ (developer ‘Kyrgyz Invest Stroy’) and ‘Avangard Resort’ (developer ‘Avagard Style’). He posted a video from the site and called for an investigation into the legality of the activities.

The Ministry of Construction, Architecture and Housing and Communal Services stated that the work is being carried out as engineering measures to reinforce the waterlogged shore and ensure the safety of holidaymakers. The department claims that local soil is being used, and that a layer of sand is planned to be laid after levelling. It is also emphasised that the construction of three five-star holiday resorts is being carried out on the basis of design and planning permission documentation.

However, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision clarified that no environmental impact assessment had been issued for this site in the Issyk-Kul region. It follows that the impact of the construction work on the environment and ecosystems has not been assessed.

Ecologist Sergei Krivoruchko, in conversation with the editorial team of ‘Akchabar’ , cast doubt on the existence of official permits for large-scale construction work within the lake’s water protection zone.

“For areas with a special environmental regime, such as Issyk-Kul, the absence of duly obtained permits from the authorised state environmental protection body and local authorities may indicate the need for the public prosecutor’s office to investigate the legality of such works,” he emphasised.

The ecologist also expressed the view that the visible scale of earthworks at these sites has already led to the physical destruction of the local coastal ecosystem, with no possibility of its restoration.

The akimat reported that the State Technical Inspectorate is currently working on site. The Ministry of Natural Resources added that inspections may take place, although the issue of a comprehensive assessment has not yet been raised.

Against the backdrop of all the above, statements regarding ‘shore reinforcement’ and engineering works remain subject to assessment by the relevant authorities and possible inspections.