Demolition has begun on a self-service car wash on Taraz Street in Astana's Baikonyr district, built without permits on a plot not designated for such a facility, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to the Astana akimat, the structure stood in close proximity to residential buildings and inconvenienced local residents. Inspectors from the city's State Architectural and Construction Control had previously notified the owner of the illegal structure of the need to remedy the violations, but he ignored those demands.
"The GASK department conducted an unscheduled inspection of this facility. Based on the inspection results, administrative measures were taken against the owner, and an order was issued to remedy the identified violations. Because the order was not complied with, the department initiated a lawsuit seeking demolition," explained Ömirzhan Kereikhan, chief specialist of the Astana State Architectural and Construction Control Department.
The proceedings lasted eight months and ended with a court ruling to demolish the structure.
To date, the department has conducted 341 unscheduled inspections, issued 182 orders to remedy violations, and imposed 702 administrative fines totaling more than 265 million tenge.
"We urge city residents to comply with the law on architectural, urban planning and construction activity, and we remind them that failure to comply with this law entails administrative liability," the akimat added.