EcoLur
The public hearings and the project itself on Bardzradir (Mazra) mine opencast development were drawn up with significant drawbacks. The participants of the public hearings talk about this, which was held on 29 May in Tsav Village, Syunik Region. “Offland Trading Solution” Company organized the public hearings.
“The public hearings were not conducted and covered in the proper manner,” said Kapan Aarhus Center Coordinator Ashot Avagyan in his conversation with EcoLur. In his opinion, the organizers of the hearings were not prepared to answer the questions and experts were missing. “Under the project, 40 ha of the territory is to be designed for dumps. Where is this territory? Nobody could show it. Nobody could answer the questions about risks for water resources,” Avagyan said.
WWF-Armenia Head Karen Manvelyan mentioned, “We have certain concerns that the project territory is in the buffer zone of Shikahogh wildlife reserve. Nevertheless, the project lacks topographical maps and none of the organizers could present maps for discussions,” – That is, the documents allowing to assess risks for the wildlife reserve? – Yes, these documents were almost missing. No experts have assessed biodiversity and nobody was able to answer questions about red-listed animals.”
The company representative assured that “the excavator won’t be operating within three years.” What it means only the company knows as the submitted project refers to opencast mine development.
May 30, 2012 at 12:54