EcoLur
On 16 August 2008 the residents inhabiting at 2 Tamanyan str. and 39/12 Mashtots Ave. gathered in the yard to hinder tree cutting. The bulldozer had already got into the yard, when the representatives of Yerevan Power Supply Network, special mission units and police, more than 15 people arrived.
The quarrel concerns the green territory of 40 square meters where a substation shall be built according to Yerevan Mayor’s decision № 2474-A dated on 12 December 2004. At present the substation is located on the first floor of the house at 2 Tamanyan str. next to “Gabone” Gallery. The owners of the gallery (under hearsay, the family members of one top official in Armenia) privatized the building, thereby closing the ways to the substation. The residents have no doubt that safety regulations are violated and the substation must be transferred to a more appropriate place. Nevertheless, in their opinion the green section of the yard is not that place. Many applications to the City Hall with an offer of alternative versions have been rejected. The main reason for refusals are, in residents’ opinion, the fact the version approved by the City Hall will be cheaper several times that alternative ones. “It turns out that the city authorities prefer to destroy our yard though everywhere they show off that they are following the law and take care about green zones,” said one of the residents adding that she would not allow either bulldozer or builders to enter the yard.
In reply to EcoLur’s question who invited special mission units and police, the representatives pointed to the bulldozer operator who immediately denied this assumption.
August 18, 2008