Why Do Villagers Agree to Sell Their Land Areas with Such Ease?

EcoLur

Under the project documents on the rehabilitation of electrical communication line joining Shinuhayr substation to Hrazdan TPP (220 KW), around 7.2 ha land area will be alienated for 720 rod posts, about 50% of which is private, under forecasting. Other land areas will also be alienated for the resettlement of the population.

EcoLur had interviews with the residents of Aghnjadzor community, Vayots Dzor Region, where electrical communication line will be laid. “About two years ago people came and made measurements. If they compensate properly, I will agree to sell my land area,” said Vanush Sargsyan and added his land area used to be plough land, but he can’t grow barley and wheat there because of water absence. Another resident, Shogher Simonyan, also agrees to sell her land area saying she doesn’t get any income from it.

The residents mention that they don’t see any positive thing in the implementation of this project. Many villagers would like the electricity price to be reduced, but just the opposite happens. “Against Legal Unlawfulness” NGO member Ashot Khalatyan said, “They told us that the number of rod posts will reduce from 870 to 720, but they don’t tell us that one day these figures will be added. I would like to hear when the rod posts will be taken out, but I didn’t get answer to my question during the hearings.”

Sali Community head Samvel Ghazaryan, “We don’t incur much damage, as land areas are not cultivated in our village, as there is no water, besides seeds and fertilizers are very expensive.  Agriculture is not profitable here,” said Samvel Ghazaryan and added that the project has no connections with the electricity price, so it won’t affect them in any way.

June 16, 2014 at 17:32