Goris enlarged community, Syunik Region, Armenia, has faced a number of problems: lack of jobs, over-exploitation of water resources due to the development of hydropower, unpromising tourism, agriculture. At the same time, security issues have been exacerbated by the post-war situation.
Within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" project, the project expert Roza Julhakyan, PhD in Chemical Sciences, presented the main social and ecological problems of Goris enlarged community. during meetings with local residents and local government representatives in Goris, Verishen and Qarahunj villages.
The community with a population of about 30,000 was formed as a result of the unification of Akner, Aghbulagh, Bardzravan, Khndzoresk, Hartashen, Dzorak, Nerqin Khndzoresk, Shurnukh, Vorotan, Vanand, Verishen and Qarahunj rural settlements in Goris. The development of the hydropower sector in Goris enlarged community has led to the overexploitation of water resources, the reduction of environmental flow in rivers and the shortage of water during the irrigation season, which, in its turn, hinders the development of agriculture.
The community does not have sufficient services and infrastructure for tourism, garbage collection is not carried out properly, there is no sewage treatment plant, the cultivation of greenhouse crops is not developed in rural areas.
The other problem is unemployment. In 2019, the unemployment rate in Goris is 16.5%. There are many beneficiary families in the community. According to official data, the number of registered households in the family social security system constituted 543 as of September 2020.
Problems in Hydropower
Contour Global Hydro Cascade CJSC operates Vorotan hydrocomplex, as well as a number of SHPPs in Goris community. "The company operating the SHPP cannot ensure great profitability, so in this situation the community cannot expect social support from the SHPP. In another case, the SHPP design did not consider irrigation water requirements and irrigation regimes. At the same time, the rights of people carrying out irrigation from the river are violated, because, according to RA Water Code, the water intake for the production of electricity from the river is subordinated to the water intake for irrigation purposes," the expert said.
Along with all this, the activities of SHPPs do not alleviate the problem of unemployment in the community. Up to 10 people are employed in one SHPP.
The following SHPPs / HPPs generate hydropower in the community
1 ․ The system of "Vorotan" hydroelectric power plants operated by "Contour Global Hydro Cascade" CJSC. The system of hydroelectric power plants consists of Spandaryan (76 MW), Shamb (171 MW) and Tatev (157.2 MW) HPPs, the total installed capacity of which is 404.2 MW, the annual design output - 1.16 billion kWh.
2. "V.A.L." SHPP operated by "V.A.L. ENERGO" LLC located in the administrative area of Goris, has a low economic profitability. SHPP hydropower equipment has low technical efficiency.
3 ․ "Vorotna HPP" SHPP is located in Vorotan settlement. According to the water use permit, "Vorotna HPP" SHPP can carry 79603.0 thousand cubic meters of water in the river during the 12 months of the year, providing 1.1 cubic meters per second of environmental flow.
4․ "Benzar Energy" SHPP is located in Vorotan community, takes 1293.0 thousand m3 of water from Vorotan river during all months of the year, providing 0.03 m 3 / s environmental flow.
5. "Qarahunj" SHPP is located in Qarahunj settlement. The SHPP is operated by "Qarahunj HPP" LLC. The SHPP takes 29.98 million m3 of water from the Goris River in all months of the year, providing 0.04 m3/s environmental flow in the river.
6 ․ "Seka" SHPP is located in Qarahunj settlement. The SHPP is built on the Vararak River, a tributary of the Vorotan River, and is operated by KARALEVAS LLC. "Seka" SHPP takes 25.4 million m3 of water from the Vararak River annually, providing 0.035 m3/s environmental flow.
7 ․ "Vararakn" SHPP is operated by "KHM Friends" LLC, is located in the administrative territory of Goris community. According to the PSRC and the project, the length of the SHPP pipeline is 2263 m, the diameter is 0.7 m. According to the WTP, it can draw 16.30 million m3 of water intake, providing 0.05 m3/s environmental flow in the river.
Drainage Problems
One of the problems of the community is the regular pollution of water resources with sewage and household waste. According to Goris development plan for 2018-2022, the Vararak River is in a deplorable sanitary condition due to illegal sewage disposal from rural communities. According to "Hydro-meteorological Monitoring Center" SNCO of RA Environment Ministry, the water quality of the Vararak River in the areas above the city of Goris was assessed as "bad" 5th grade due to ammonium, phosphate ions, manganese, cobalt, iron and dependent materials in 2020.
In March 2021, as a result of measurements made at 106 and 107 (Gorisget) observatories, it was found that the river water quality in the estuarine sections above Goris had not changed; it was assessed as "bad" 5th class. The water quality above Goris Town was assessed as the "bad" 5th grade again in April-May, and "unsatisfactory" 4th grade in June. The quality of the river water at the mouth of the estuary has been assessed as 5th grade for three months.
Atmospheric Air Quality in Goris Community
Atmospheric air quality in Goris community cannot be assessed, as “Hydro-meteorological Monitoring Center" SNCO does not carry out air quality and pollutant monitoring points, does not take measurements in Goris Town, as well as in other settlements of the community.
Soil Pollution
The same is true about soil pollution, as the SNCO does not measure contaminants in soils.
Prospects for Development of Goris Community
Goris has a great potential to overcome obstacles to development, for which there are certain preconditions. "There are a large number of natural and man-made monuments in the surrounding areas within the borders of Goris community. The community has a strategically important geographical position as a transport-economic hub. Availability of educational, healthcare, cultural institutions, information technologies, existing and planned engineering laboratories, availability of forest cover and gardens near the city: the literate and correct use of all these resources can become the prospects for community development,” Roza Julhakyan said.
The opinion of the local population and the local government on the development prospects of the community will be presented in the next publication. See the full social assessment of the community at link.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
February 16, 2022 at 16:31