"Trav Stone Group" LLC intends to develop Spandaryan basalt mine in Yerevan.
Currently, 21 mining rights are granted in Yerevan for the extraction of minerals from non-metallic mines. The mines operating in the capital Yerevan have a negative impact on the air of Yerevan, which is already loaded with construction dust and transport gases. They pollute the air with dust, truck emissions, destroy the landscape of the capital, pollute the areas with waste, dumps, car oils, and make noise.
The mining companies do not have any obligations under their soil management contracts to support the socio-economic development of Yerevan Community. These companies do not carry out environmental measures, mitigation of dust emissions, establishing green zones.
According to Hydrometereological Monitoring Center of RA Environment Ministry, a tendency of increasing dust and nitrogen dioxide has been observed in Yerevan during the last 5 years.
The green belts of the capital, which clean the air of the capital, have been destroyed. The main historic green areas in Yerevan, which included Nork Forest, Dalma Gardens, Victory Park, and the adjacent Vegetable Zone, don’t exist any longer. The destruction of small green parks and public areas in the yard continues. Urban development programs have been implemented and continue to be implemented in these areas, depriving Yerevan residents of the opportunity to have clean air. Jrvezh Reserve Complex, which provides oxygen to Yerevan, was saved from destruction solely as a result of the struggle of civil society.
Whereas Yerevan Botanical Garden, which is a tasty morsel for many business plans, is still preserved, as it is located in under the auspices of Takhtajyan Institute of Botany of NAS RA.
The green area in Yerevan was calculated at a typical ratio of 7.6 m2 per capita. Cemeteries were also considered green zones for this number. Even so, 7.6 m2 is lower than the World Health Organization's minimum value of 9 m2 per capita.
Under such conditions, we, the undersigned, are against new mining in Yerevan, when there are no strict requirements for the soil managers in the capital to undertake, fulfill and perform their environmental and social obligations, there is no strict control and responsibility.
We are demanding:
· To reject to issue a permit for the operation of any new mine until the problems in this area are resolved;
· to review the soil management contracts of the soil managers operating in Yerevan, defining clear requirements for undertaking environmental and social obligations;
· Carrying out inspections by RA Nature Protection and Mining Inspection Body in the companies operating Yerevan mines and publication of the results;
· Implementing a study on the lack of green space per capita in accordance with the minimum value set by the World Health Organization, and this lack of green space and dust, smoke and gaseous air pollution in Yerevan, soil pollution and noise affect Yerevan residents’ health and defining measures to mitigate this impact.
November 15, 2021 at 10:07