EcoLur
“Zangezour Eximp” Company has taken no measures to dismantle the illegal construction of a small hydropower plant on the Gayladzor, a tributary to the Argitchi River. It should be noted that the time period defined for dismantling and territory recovery in the Regional head’s letter addressed to the company, expired still on 19 November.
In the interview with EcoLur S.O.S. Argitchi River activist Vardan Galstyan saw the main reason in a group of oligarchs engaged in this affair who exercise pressure both the government and other state organs.
“Instead of performing its main function of preserving Lake Sevan ecosystem, Nature Protection Ministry presented the problem in such an angle this is just a quarrel for water between Gegharkounik and Vayots Dzor communities. This is the way how the Committee on Lake Sevan Issues by the President of Armenia reacted. Did they forget where Sevan is?” Galstyan said.
The drainage basin of the Gayladzor is destroyed by the works conducted for canal laying. Landslip processes have already launched in this particular territory, while underwater water springs flow into the canal instead of flowing into the river.
“Zangak” TV journalist Vruyr Malkhasyan added, “It turned out that the Ministry couldn’t or didn’t want to fulfill Prime Minister’s order. Gegharkounik Regional Municipal doesn’t possess appropriate mechanisms and performed only a small function i.e. fined the company for absence of the permit for construction and wrote a letter. This is the way the problem got stuck.”
Aghnjadzor Community, Vayots Dzor, isn’t also pleased with “Zangezour Eximp” Company’s actions. Our source told us that Aghnjadzor Community residents are concerned, if the project will be given a green light, water will be sent to other countries through pipes, and they will get deprived of water. When we asked how they can prove such an assumption, we were told, “Now they took away metallic pipes, but they will bring other pipes in the spring capable of bearing strong pressure, then we will speak.”
December 10, 2010