On September 10, 2025, a mobile meeting of the Ecological Council under the city branch of the AMANAT party was held in Shymkent. The meeting was organized in the Zhanatalap settlement, where a very relevant issue for local residents was discussed - the use of the Badam River water.

The meeting was attended by the deputy executive secretary of the city branch of the party, Yerbol Baikonysov, chairman of the Ecological Council, Zhenisbek Turganov, executive secretary of the Turan district branch, Yesimkhan Bertaev, deputy head of the "Development of a Comfortable Environment" department, Murat Abdrakhmanov, representatives of the district akimat and the Department of Emergency Situations, and villagers.

The fact that various structures came together at such a level showed how important the issue was. Because we were talking about water resources, which directly affect not only the environmental situation, but also the daily lives and livelihoods of rural residents.

Currently, work is underway to concretize the banks of the Badam River, which flows through Zhanatalap. The project aims to prevent emergencies, stabilize the riverbed, and ensure local safety. Although this step seems reasonable from a hydrotechnical point of view, it has caused concern among the local population.

According to the villagers, after the construction work is completed, they may lose access to river water. This situation will negatively affect agriculture. Because the people of Zhanatalap have been watering their fields and gardens with this river water for decades.

"Our village is overlooking the waters of the Badam River. Our garden, orchard, and trees in the valley are nourished by this water. Recently, the trees have been withering. If the water stops, the entire village will be without water," said one of the gathered residents.

Murat Abdrakhmanov, Deputy Head of the Department of "Development of a Comfortable Environment", commented on this issue. According to him, part of the water diversion area has been privatized. This situation hinders the fair use of water.

"Currently, a significant plot of land for diverting water is privately owned. There is only one way to solve the problem - to return that land to state ownership. If you, the villagers, come to an agreement with your neighbors, we will quickly carry out the necessary work and ensure that water reaches the village," he said.

The gathered villagers listened carefully to this opinion and accepted it with a certain level of understanding. However, they also made their demands clear: the main condition is the uninterrupted supply of water for agriculture.

"Without water, a village has no future. Young people will move to the city, gardens and fields will wither, and livestock farming will cease. Without water, life in Zhanatalap will cease," said another resident.

In this way, the people made it clear to the authorities that rural life depends on water.

The parties agreed to resolve the issue in stages. First of all, the issue of returning the land that had been privatized to state ownership would be considered. Subsequently, appropriate work would be carried out to properly direct the water channel and deliver the required amount of water to the village.

It was also noted that in the future, the opinion of the local population will be taken into account when implementing such projects. This is the main guarantee of strengthening the trust of residents and maintaining social stability.

The situation in Zhanatalap is not just a problem of one village. This is a common problem for the entire region. The majority of villages in South Kazakhstan depend on water from rivers, lakes and canals. Therefore, any hydrotechnical project should be directly related to the social situation of the local population.

Economical use of water, returning illegally acquired land to the state, and maintaining ecological balance - all of this is important for the development of not only the village, but the entire city.

In this event, the AMANAT party served as a bridge between the people and the authorities. A roadshow organized by the party's Environmental Council gave villagers the opportunity to directly address their concerns.

Such meetings increase public trust and foster an open dialogue with the authorities. Through the initiative of the AMANAT party, residents see that their problems are not ignored.

The meeting in Zhanatalap was a great lesson for society. On the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the river banks to prevent emergencies. On the other hand, the village cannot be deprived of water. Water is the basis of life, the support of agriculture.

In this regard, the parties' reaching a common agreement is a positive step. The measures that will be implemented in stages in the future will be aimed at protecting the interests of the village population and preserving the future of the village.

There is confidence that this issue will be resolved positively, thanks to the activity of urban and rural residents, the openness of the authorities, and the initiative of the AMANAT party.