EcoLur
Metsamor is a town of atomic workers, people employed at Armenian nuclear power plant. People unwillingly share with their ideas about the future of Metsamor. They say if the plant is closed suddenly, they will become unemployed and bread and butter. EcoLur working group visited Metsamor. When we asked about the construction of a new NPP or extending operation term of ANPP, a passing by woman said, “I don’t know what my attitude is: I have been living here for 40 years and I have already got used to. Everything here is linked with ANPP and this is our life.”
Taking into consideration all the circumstances connected with IAEA social policy in regard with safety, as well as priorities declared by government in developing nuclear energy, Metsamor should turn into a focal point. It should have been like that, but didn’t. “What do we have in Metsamor today? Nothing,” said Naira Arakelyan, Chairman of Regional Development Center. Metsamor resident, “I have recently learned that Armenian NPP and our town are located in different administrative areas. We read about it in the newspaper. Everybody was surprised: we are a nuclear town, but don’t have anything in common with ANPP?”
The town has no hospital. There used to be one, but it became useless and now patient care is provides in the hospital located beyond town borders. “One day some people came and told us to pack our things and evicted us from the hospital,” residents said. Preventive checkups of Metsamor residents’ health is not carried out. “All this costs money. Nevertheless, not everybody can afford to undergo medical checkup at least once per year,” said Metsamor resident.
The problems in Metsamor do exist and they are various. “Huys Metsamor” (Hope of Metsamor) NGO only has already recorded 27 disabled children. Chairman Organization Margarit Sedrakyan said, “Besides these children, there are many other children with different problems. Nevertheless, they are not recorded. Nobody visits them, conducts any checkups and pays any attention. No information is available what is what.” Naira Arakelyan, “We had public hearings conducted on the construction of new ANPP. But our voices should be heard. The town has no transportation so as people could reach aid posts. This town should have a hospital and a resort center.”
Many people are concerned whether development defects are connected with the fact, that parents of such children work at ANPP, meanwhile almost all families in Metsamor have a family member working at ANPP. “Nevertheless, no information is available. When I myself used to work at ANPP, the whole information was secret,” said Metsamor resident.
July 03, 2012 at 12:42