OREANDA-NEWS. December 02, 2013. Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has held a Government session on the issues of implementation of the President’s instructions on further development of Astana.

In relation to the issue of the use of land plots, the Prime Minister noted the inadequacy of measures to bring them back under state ownership, even after the land inventory held during the period from 2011 to 2012. In this regard Akimats of Astana city and Akmola region together with the Prosecutor General’s Office were instructed to continue the work to return lands that are not being developed and are not used for their intended purpose under the state ownership.

As for the development of settlements adjacent to Astana, Serik Akhmetov instructed Akimats of Astana city and Akmola region to develop a comprehensive commuter belt development plan, update general layouts of settlements in the suburbs, to suspend the allocation of land for individual housing construction until the completion of this work.

Noting that "the President instructed to increase the area of the Green Belt to 200 thousand hectares by 2030," Akhmetov instructed the Ministry of Environmental Protection together with Akimats of the capital and Akmola region within a month to submit a comprehensive plan for the continuous planting of Astana and suburban area.

Competition Protection Agency together with interested government agencies was instructed to make appropriate proposals for compliance of the cost of construction with housing sales prices. Astana akimat has to actively promote the implementation of the pilot project for the demolition of dilapidated housing and building new streets on the Left Bank of the Ishim River.

The Prime Minister also urged to ensure smooth operation of energy facilities during the heating season, to strengthen crime prevention in Astana.

At the end of the meeting, Akhmetov stressed the importance of rapid implementation of the instructions of the President on the development of the capital.