Gohar Abrahamyan, ArmeniaNow
Last weekend saw another cleaning and improvement effort in the city of Yerevan due to which the Armenian capital got about 30,000 more trees.
Before what is known as Subbotnik, or volunteer work day, Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan called on all citizens to actively participate in cleaning and other related activities.
“I urge residents of Yerevan not to have a formal attitude towards condominiums' yard space cleaning effort, not only to pick up papers and bags, but also to take care of the greenery, bushes, trees, to improve the territories of yards, fences and border stones,” said the mayor.
Thus, as a result of tree-planting activities in all administrative districts of the city, a total of 29,800 trees were planted, of which 9,500 are evergreens.
During the three days of cleaning a total of 615 yards have been cleaned and improved. A total of 930 cubic meters of household and construction waste is expected to be removed.
The City Pantheon in Yerevan’s Komitas Park was also part of last weekend’s cleaning and improvement effort. President Serzh Sargsyan and Mayor Karapetyan themselves planted trees there during their tour on Saturday.
Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan reported that the main improvement work in the Pantheon had started still a few days before and included renovation of pavements and park lanes, improvement of certain statues and podiums.
“The green part of the park will be fully improved. The park has been brought to a good condition,” said Areyan.
Some 70-80 percent of air pollution in Yerevan is a result of emission by vehicles and anti-ecological construction and according to environmentalists, periodical tree-plantings are essential for the city.
The latest was the third Subbotnik to have been held in Yerevan in recent weeks. More than 20,000 trees were planted in all administrative districts of the city as part of the previous two volunteer work Saturdays.
May 24, 2011 at 12:46