Court Rules Chinese Cement Plant in Qyzylorda Region Harmful to Health

A regional court upheld the decision of a court of first instance. It ruled that dust from a cement plant in the village of Kodamanov in the Qyzylorda region is harmful to village residents' health, Orda.kz reports.

As specified by the press service of the Qyzylorda Regional Court, the residents complained about cement dust to the local Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control. However, they concluded that the cement plant's activities do not negatively impact the population's health. 

Villagers, tired of breathing dust from the plant, went to court to request that the conclusion of the authorized body be declared unlawful. 

In court, the plaintiffs said that the village elder, who was in the village during the construction of the cement plant, has now moved to another city, the residents did not know what damage the cement plant would cause, and now they are suffering from dust spreading from the plant, The regional court's press service reported.

The court of first instance satisfied the plaintiffs' claim and found the conclusion unlawful.

However, representatives of the cement plant disagreed with this decision and filed an appeal to the regional court.

According to the regulations of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the cement plant is classified as a first class hazard facility, and the size of its sanitary protection zone from residential buildings must be at least 1,000 meters. However, it has been established that the distance between the cement plant and residential buildings is 500 meters,added the court's press service.

The panel of judges concluded that the cement plant had grossly violated the regulatory requirements when determining the size of the sanitary protection zone. The sanitary and epidemiological control department's conclusion violated residents' rights. The court's decision of first instance was upheld, and the appeal was dismissed.

The cement plant in the village named after Kodamanov belongs to the Chinese company Gezhouba Shieli Cement. China Gezhouba Group built the enterprise, a major industrial project within the One Belt—One Road initiative.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya