EcoLur
The Aldermen’s Council of Meghri Town, Syunik Region, has addressed to the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan drawing his attention to the environmental problems in Meghri Region. The message says,
“Dear Mr. President
Guided by Article 11 of RA Law “On Local Government Bodies” we address to you in regard with the disastrous environmental problem undermining the population of Meghri region.
On 27 December 2012, 70 residents of Meghri Town filed an application to the local government bodies of the community, which particularly says, “Recently we leant that the rural administrations of Litchq and Vardanidzor communities, Syunik Region, held public hearings in regard with the development of copper and molybdenum mines in the territory of the aforementioned communities. This reality has caused concerns to us, even for the reason that the business entities avoided holding such hearings in our communities and other project affected communities located near Meghri Town.
As you know, Meghri region faces serious environmental challenges. The main mines in the region are unfortunately located at significantly higher places, where the water formation and distribution systems and water drainage basins are located, both for the drinking and irrigation water. The mines, which already operate (Terterasar, Litchvaz-Tey, Agarak copper and molybdenum mine), have caused disastrous situation in the region. And in general, the following fact should be taken into consideration: uranium and thorium are accompanying elements for all the mines in Meghri region. Their concentration is rather high in the mines of Litchq, Tashtun, Litchqvaz-Tey (the map is attached). Besides the aforementioned mines, which already operate, licenses have been issued for the examination and development of various new mines. As a matter of fact, this area faces a real experiment. The last, but not the least: the Meghri River, which originates at the height of 3100 meters, gets to Meghri area, which is 500-600 meters above sea level, without any obstacles on its way and bringing extremely toxic persistent substances contaminating the land and water of the settlements. Already now the dust which spreads from mines and tailing dumps with its heavy metals and other hazardous metals pollutes the whole air, land and water in our territory.
It’s evident that the business possessing modern super-powerful technologies, don’t have any conscience and sense of responsibility by giving priority to their personal interests over national and state interests and destroying out mountains thus making it unsuitable for further habitation. Even today, when the mining is still far from its forecasting volumes, with the naked eye and without any studies you can see increase in gastric and intestinal diseases, high tension and other diseases. People complain of and suffer from headaches, rheumatism and feeling of tiredness. Cancer diseases have obviously increased, high blood density has become very common. Land fertility has been gradually decreasing year after year, the appearance of the lands gets changed, trees get dry, vegetables practically don’t grow, it’s senseless to deal with agriculture.
The barren rocks, which also contain many toxic substances, cover the neighboring gorges and due to many mountainous brooklets flow into the Meghri River, i.e. the irrigation system.
The business entities, with the permission of proper departments, secretly penetrate into the previously investigated territories of uranium and thorium (Litchq, Tashtun and Litvhqvaz Tey) and carry out additional prospecting for non-ferrous metals for their further mining. The absence of any information poses serious threats to people both employed at mines and living in the affected areas, who are mainly poor and need jobs, while the promises of these companies are rather attractive on the background of social hard conditions. If the policy run towards our area doesn’t get changed, it’s beyond any doubts, this policy will result in Meghri area turning into a desert with polluted rivers, contaminated land areas in a couple of decades, which children born will be sick and with defects, the signs of which are already obvious.”
March 06, 2013 at 16:20