The villages in Meghri area - Litchq, Vardanidzor, Tkhkut and Aygedzor - are getting derelict. The reason is the lack of jobs, socio-economic problems, abandonment of traditional agriculture. In recent years, a secondary school in Litchq was closed.
Litchq
Aygedzor
Litchq
Vardanidzor
Vardanidzor
Vardanidzor
These communities are located in the impact zone of Litchq copper mine, as well as in the impact zone of Tkhkut site of Aygedzor copper-molybdenum mine. The right to soil management for the development of these mines in 2012 and 2013 was issued to "Tatstone" LLC.
The company did not operate the mine. In 2020, with the consent of the company and by the decree of RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the soil management right of Tkhkut site of Aygedzor copper-molybdenum mine was terminated, and the soil management contract of the company was terminated. Although the soil management rights of Litchq copper mine are in force, the mine has not been developed either. Mining and capital works at the mine have been suspended since 2018.
The drinking water distribution sanitary zone of Meghri and adjacent settlements is located in the lake. The locals are worried that the water sources will be polluted if the mine is developed. Meghri residents even held protest actions against mining operations, they sent a letter to RA Minister of Nature Protection with a request to annul the positive environmental expert opinion issued in 2015 to Litchq Copper Mine Project, which was not resolved.
Hovhannes Mirzoyan, the administrative representative of Litchq, mentioned about the pollution of Meghri River and Zvaraget. "These two rivers are our drinking rivers: they are near the mine and would definitely be polluted. But it is difficult to live day by day, everyone wants to have a job, to work," he said.
According to Hovhannes Mirzoyan, "Tatstone" company bought 156.16 hectares of land from Litchq for the operation of Litchq mine, paying 800 AMD per square meter. According to the soil management contract, 860 trees were cut down for the operation of the mine in an area of 10 hectares. Hovhannes Mirzoyan mentioned that there were bushes in that area. As compensation, the company planted 2,000 trees two years ago.
Prior to the community expansion, the company implemented social programs in the village. "In terms of social assistance, “Tatstone" company provided it whether it was related to education or medicine. "People applied for assistance and they provided it: they helped on New Year, completely changed the lighting of our community with LED lamps," Hovhannes Mirzoyan said. Litchq Administrative Head was not well aware of the plans implemented after the enlargement of the communities.
Vanik Sargsyan, Head of Organizational Department of Meghri Municipality, mentioned about the support provided by "Tatstone". "The company has allocated 3 million and 2 million 30 thousand AMD for socio-economic development programs in the community in 2020."
"Tatstone" also had socio-economic obligations under a soil management contract at Tkhkut site of Aygedzor copper-molybdenum mine. In his interview with EcoLur, Rafik Mkrtchyan, the administrative representative of Lehvaz/Vardanidzor settlements, stated that he was not aware of the assistance. There has been no kindergarten or school in Aygedzor since Soviet times.
Currently, the issue of water and poor roads is still pending in the villages. In their conversation with EcoLur, Tkhkut residents mentioned, "Our water flows from the mountain by gravity. Even during the winter months, it freezes, there is not even water for the washing machine to operate. We have to bring water from below, from the memorial near the highway. The mining companies could solve the problem of asphalting the village community road or build water pipelines,” the residents said.
Due to unemployment in the villages, the difficult socio-economic conditions created by the war and the coronavirus epidemic, with no alternative to work, people are not against the development of mines. However, according to them, the mines should be developed exclusively in compliance with all environmental norms. Mining companies must be accountable to the affected areas for their activities and fulfill their commitments.
This material has been prepared within “Liability of Non-operating Mining Companies in EITI Process” project impletmened 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.
May 31, 2021 at 12:32