EcoLur
The residents in Kapan town community and Geghanush residential area in Syunik Region negatively assess the impact of Kapan Ore Processing Combine on the quality of agricultural land areas, irrigation water, aid purity, fruit and vegetables and the quality of roads, as the residents noted in the course of the interviews, the findings of which are summarized in the sociological report entitled “Perception of People On Social Impacts of Operations of Kapan Ore Processing Combine and Proposals Aimed At Overcoming Negative Impacts” implemented by Dr. Anahit Mkrtchyan, Head of “Community Mutual Assistance” Social NGO within the frames of “Mining-impacted communities – full participants in the EITI process” project.
There were 17 respondents from Kapan town community and 11 residents from Geghanush. The conclusion of the sociological report says,
“First, the Combine representatives haven’t ever spoken about probable negative socio-economic impacts on the community because of the operations of the combine at the events providing information about the social impact of the ore processing combine such as public hearings, community meetings and discussions. Whereas the social negative impacts on the air, water and soil in the community are visible and worrying in regard to both the water purity and the safety and the reliability of Geghanush tailing dump.
Second: the level of awareness of the residents about the damage prevention caused by Shahumyan gold-polymetallic mining operations and ways of their overcoming, awareness of their own rights was of intermediate level, mainly in Kapan town community.
Third: the opportunities of people’s involvement in the EITI processes are visible among the urban population, nevertheless, there is currently need to increase the opportunities of the involvement of the rural population in the EITI process
This material has been prepared within “Mining-Impacted Communities – Full Participants in EITI Process'” project implemented by EcoLur with the USAID support within the frames of “Engaged Citizenry for Responsible Governance” project implemented by Transparency International Anticorruption Center.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
June 20, 2019 at 14:25