NUR-SULTAN: Kazakhstan is mulling the tightening of penalties for environmental damage caused by citizens and companies, said Kazakh Minister of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources Magzum Mirzagaliyev, the press service of Kazakh’s Prime Minister reported on Friday.
The fines will be doubled from 27,780 tenge (US$65) to 55,560 tenge (US$130), according to the draft environmental code. The fines for violations by medium and large businesses will grow from 83,340 tenge (US$195) and 194,460 tenge (US$455) to 208,350 tenge (US$487) and 1,389,000 tenge (US$3,250), respectively.
The penalties will apply to offenses such as the pollution of public places, destruction and damage of nature reserves, violation of the rules for the protection of water resources, fire safety and sanitary regulations in forests, destruction, or damage to forest fauna as well as damage or contamination of forests.
Mirzagaliyev said the new environmental code, which will replace the code adopted back in 2007, enforces a more responsible and empathic attitude towards the treatment of animals. This follows several cases of cruel treatment of animals that caused a public outcry and were also mentioned by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the expanded government meeting in July, who noted the importance of the document, particularly to educate the younger generation to show care and empathic behavior to the environment and animals.
“But all suggestions that stipulate the tightening of punishment entail amendments to criminal and administrative codes. The wording will be later formulated by the parliament,” said the minister.
The document, which was developed taking into account the experience of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, also envisions the closure of dolphinariums, which is what the nation’s animal activists have long been advocating for. –Agencies
