In Gladzor enlarged community, Vayots Dzor Region, conflicts arose again due to RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure granting "Metal Gold" company a 3-year industrial geological prospecting permit for Gladzor polymetallic mine.
"Metal Gold" Company planned to hold a public hearing in order to get permission from Gladzor Community, although according to the company's plan, the works would be of purely office, computer and field work, which would not have anything to do with it. On May 11, 2021, the residents of Gladzor community did not allow public hearings.
Various meetings and discussions are currently taking place in the community. The EcoLur team took part in one of these discussions, which, as previously announced, was dedicated to the ecological security of the area. Conflict arose during the meeting, as some of the young people with employment problems received promises from the company to create jobs. They clashed with locals who opposed any mining activities in the community.
It should be reminded that Gladzor Community residents oppose mining operations, the implementation of geoprospecting, and the community council is committed to its decision No. 44 "On making Gladzor community an eco-economic area and banning metal mining in the community" dated on April 29, 2019. Under this petition, 2152 residents of Gladzor, Vernashen and Getap villages, which are part of Gladzor community, have asked and demanded to ban and exclude in the future the implementation of geoprospecting related to metal mining in the administrative territory of Gladzor community.
As an alternative to mining, locals see the development of their community in agriculture, winemaking and tourism. Gladzor Community Head Armen Movsisyan told EcoLur that a reservoir construction program is being discussed in the area called Korek Dzor. "If this program is implemented, 800-900 hectares will be irrigated in Malishka, Vernashen and Gladzor," he said.
The EcoLur team believes that although the company's plan emphasizes that office work will be carried out, the company plans to conduct field work and take a 10,000-cubic-meter sample from the community for study. Fieldwork requires an environmental expert assessment, which requires prior community hearings to obtain community approval. According to the submitted Work Plan, the studies will be carried out for the further development of the mine. Here the tendency to violate the principle of efficient, complex and rational use of natural resources is obvious.
August 11, 2021 at 17:22