Kazakhstan's Atbasar District Strengthens Flood Defences After Years of Crisis

The Atbasar District in Kazakhstan's Akmola Region has stepped up flood defences after years of recurring inundations. Authorities have rolled out a 29-point prevention plan, backed by a budget of 288 million tenge, to protect vulnerable areas along the Zhabay and Koluton rivers. Recent measures include riverbed modifications, embankment construction, and large-scale snow clearance to divert meltwater away from populated zones. Flood risks in Atbasar have prompted major infrastructure upgrades. Along the Zhabay River, 1.5 kilometres of the waterway have been straightened to ease water flow and lower overflow threats. A broader dredging and widening project, costing 9.8 billion tenge, is also in progress to further stabilise the riverbed.

Nearby, the Koluton River's banks are being reinforced to hold back floodwaters and maintain transport routes. A new embankment at the 976th kilometre of the Almaty–Yekaterinburg highway now redirects steppe runoff, preventing road closures. These efforts follow earlier work in the Astrachansker Region, where dyke reinforcements, pump stations, and tree planting had already reduced flooding in around 12 villages and Stary Koluton.

In Atbasar city, a shared snow-clearance scheme between residents and municipal teams was introduced for the first time this year. The operation successfully diverted 90% of meltwater from urban areas. Meanwhile, the district has stockpiled 12,000 sandbags for emergencies, with plans to expand reserves to 39,000. Almost all scheduled flood prevention tasks in the district have now been completed. The combined measures aim to shield Atbasar's 16 at-risk villages and surrounding settlements from seasonal flooding. With river modifications, embankments, and improved snow management in place, authorities expect fewer disruptions to roads and homes. The projects also set a template for future flood control in the wider region.