Locals Beating An Alarm Signal: Shnogh River and Areas Irrigated with Its Water Polluted Because of Teghout Tailing Dump Leaks (Photos)

EcoLur

Because of the Teghout tailing dump leaks, Shnogh River and areas irrigated with its water have been polluted - Teghout and Shnogh community residents are beating an alarm signal. EcoLur is presenting the section of the public hearings held in Teghout community on 24 August, which refers to the complaints and demands of the residents.

Shnogh Resident Arayik Babayan: The water is turbid, while our trees get completely dry. You are increasing the volume of ore production, and in this case, the hazard increases as well.

Hovik Nikoghosyan, Head of Environmental Department of "Lernametalurgiai Institute" (CJSC): According to the technology, there shouldn't be any industrial water leaks from the combine.

'Teghout' CJSC Deputy General Manager Sahak Karapetyan: It's not so true: the lower the dam level is, the less water it can store, so the increase in the surface volume supports the increase in water level, which makes the tailing dump more stable.

Shnogh resident Levon Alikhanyan: Who can say from the locals that their orchards don't get dry because of this water. You said you have established a unique tailing dump in Armenia in line with the advanced world experience and new technologies. Your tailing dump will never get full because you have leaks every night. Your previous projects didn't say that the Shnogh River will get so muddy or there will be leaks.

'Teghout' CJSC Deputy General Manager Sahak Karapetyan: The breakdown spills we mentioned happened from the pond. Changes are anticipated; the distribution of the pumping station will be above the ponds. What about turbidity, we will discuss it.
Shnogh resident Levon Alikhanyan: Unless you have compensated damage, don't think about increasing the volumes.

Shnogh resident Ashot: During the last discussions you said you will proceed to compensations, but so far no one has been compensated.

'Teghout' CJSC Deputy General Manager Sahak Karapetyan: 'Teghout' CJSC will compensate them.

Teghout resident Alyosha: We used to have frogs and snakes in our small lake. What are the causes of their absence nowadays?

'Teghout' CJSC Deputy General Manager Sahak Karapetyan: We will take a sample to understand whether or not it has any relation with us. In your present sampling will be carried out and the results will be presented to a competent body so as they can make decisions based on the results.

Shnogh resident Vardan Vardanyan: You actions will result in health problems.