On April 14, 2022 in Balykchy, in the conference hall of the Balykchy City Hall, with the financial support of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, a round table was held on the topic “The role of the public in the implementation of the principles of the Aarhus Convention. Interaction of state bodies and representatives of the public in solving environmental problems ”organized by the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center. The purpose of the round table was to inform the public about the principles of the Aarhus Convention, about the activities of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center, discuss the environmental problems of the Balykchy city and carry out relevant work with government agencies on the eve of the Day of Environmental Knowledge.

The round table was attended by: A. Asanaliev – First Vice-Mayor of Balykchy, K. Mambetaliev – Director of the Directorate of the Biosphere Territory “Issyk-Kul”, K. Suyundukov – Deputy Director, M. Tarzhiev – Director of the municipal enterprise for Improvement and Sanitary Cleaning at mayor’s office of Balykchy, inspectors of the Issyk-Kul Territorial Department of the MPRETK KR N. Imanberdiev, T. Orozov, deputy commander of the Patrol service of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Issyk-Kul region, police lieutenant colonel N. Alymbaev, deputies of the Balykchy city kenesh, representatives of youth, women’s movements, council of aksakals in the amount of 32 people.

First vice-mayor of Balykchy A. Asanaliev delivered a welcoming speech. He expressed his gratitude to the organizers, urged the participants to actively participate in the discussion of the environmental problems of the city of Balykchy.

The manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center S. Tursunakunov introduced the participants to the principles of the Aarhus Convention, spoke about the activities of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center for 2020-2021, and answered questions from the participants.

M.Tarzhiev, director of the MP for Improvement and Sanitary Cleaning at the mayor’s office of Balykchy: “The area of ​​the sanitary landfill in Balykchy is 15 hectares, all the necessary documents have been received, the landfill has been legalized. The landfill was opened in 1970 and has been operating to this day. 0.4-0.5 kg of garbage a day, all garbage is removed in a timely manner. With the financial support of Kumtor, we installed a waste sorting complex. Due to the pandemic, the complex did not fully operate, starting from January 2021, the complex began to work. There are cases when residents avoiding payment for garbage collection throw garbage at unspecified places.Our employees receive mayors in relation to such citizens and clean up illegal dumps.”

Inspector of the Issyk-Kul Territorial Administration of the MNRETS of the Kyrgyz Republic T. Orozov informed the participants about the activities of the territorial administration, answered questions from the participants.

Director of the Directorate of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Territory K.Mambetaliev: “I express my gratitude to all the participants. There are 61 aiyl okmotu and 3 cities in Issyk-Kul region, and the number of garbage dumps is 94. In some aiyl okmotu there are 2 garbage dumps. Many landfills are not legalized. It’s time to organize 1 landfill in 2-3 ayil okmotu and start waste sorting works in the landfill of Balykchy. Environmental pollution and the reduction of biodiversity are in the first place among global environmental problems.”

A.Kenenbaeva, Head of the Department of the Directorate of the Biosphere Territory “Issyk-Kul”, spoke about the activities of the Directorate and made a presentation dedicated to the Day of Ecological Knowledge.

Deputy commander of the Patrol service of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Issyk-Kul region, police lieutenant colonel N. Alymbaev told the participants of the round table about the creation of a tourist-ecological police force to prevent environmental offenses in the Issyk-Kul region. Answered questions from participants about the amount of fines imposed for violations.

Deputy Director of the Directorate of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Territory K. Suyundukov: “Despite the adoption of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the Prohibition of the Import, Production, Manufacture, Sale and Use of Synthetic Fishing Nets, Electric Fishing Systems in the Kyrgyz Republic”, the import and sale of synthetic fishing nets continues , it is necessary to strengthen control in this direction.

The participants raised such problems as environmental problems in the area of ​​the Oil Depot, poaching, the resumption of the work of the ecological post at the entrance to Balykchy, cleaning the beaches, holding a competition among secondary school students in Balykchy to educate young people, sorting garbage.

Based on the results of the round table, the following decisions were made:

1. Involve boarding house rescuers to clean the bottom of the lake from garbage.
2. Consider the issue of holding a competition among secondary school students in Balykchy.
3. Check the territory of the Oil Depot and do a water analysis.
4. Strengthen control over the import into the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic, the manufacture and sale of synthetic fishing nets.
5. Strengthen media coverage of environmental issues.
6. Involve young men who are doing alternative service in garbage collection work.
7. After the end of the summer season, check boarding houses for the presence of garbage.

According to the decisions made, appeals will be sent to the relevant state bodies and public responses will be given on the work done.