Artur Hovhannisyan, the Hayots Ashkharh
Anxiety and fuss before construction.
The Armenian government intends to construct a new depository to bury radioactive, hazardous chemical substances and wastes in the territory of Armenia.
The Energy and Natural Resources Deputy Minister I. Isayan’s message addressed to Ararat Regional Head V. Hovakimyan says that they intend to conduct the works in the territories of Ourtsalanj and Zangakatoun Communities, Ararat Region. Zangakatoun population is particularly worried about this project and objects to it. Moreover, they even object to prospecting.
Under locals Avag Nazaryan, Vilson Mayilyan, Grigor Khachatryan etc, different springs are located 100-300 meters far from that territory, while the irrigation system of three villages (Sevak, Tigranashen, Yeraskh) runs 200 meters away from that particular territory. Under them, already natural radiation of radioactive element is observed (we speak about natural radioactive background that can be observed in other places), as well as mercury.
“The organization responsible for conducting the works represented as if the depository is designed for municipal wastes, among which radioactive isotopes can also be found,” said Lilik Simonyan, the expert of “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO, in her interview with us.
“I think information is wrongly presented, as isotopes are not buried together with isotope wastes. Calculation and burial of isotopes need special conditions.”
RESIDENTS AGAINST IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Artur Hovhannisyan, the Hayots Ashkharh
The Armenian government intends to construct a new depository to bury radioactive, hazardous chemical substances and wastes in the territory of Armenia and the territory of Ourtsalanj and Zangakatoun Communities in Ararat Region is selected.
Here is our interview with Marat Grigoryan, Director of “YSU Center for Geological Prospecting” LLC having won the tender to conduct the abovementioned works announced by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, and Dean of Geography and Geology University of Yerevan State University who denies the apprehensions of the local population and environmentalists published in the last issue of the “Hayots Ashkarh” by presenting a number of certain arguments.
“We only conduct investigations and on the basis of these investigations the government will make a decision in future whether or not to construct a depository. This prospecting is conducted according to the government decision and government order. The government made a decision to construct a depository complying with contemporary international standards. This will be a depository where one can collect both radioactive, hazardous chemical substances and wastes, medical or agricultural ones, except radioactive wastes of the nuclear power plant. There is also a depository for radioactive isotopes (in the territory of the nuclear power plant), as well as several depositories for banned pesticides, nevertheless, none of them complies with international standards.
The Ararat Regional municipality promised to help us, to secure safety, but this was just a promise. I have applied to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. I also applied to the Head of the police of Ararat Region in order to secure people’s safety, but no solution to this problem has been found so far. Drilling processes have been stopped since 25 March.
June 18, 2010