Dastakert settlement in Syunik Region leaves the impression of a ghost town. Semi-destroyed buildings, infrastructure of the former mining complex, industrial buildings turned into ruins. Out of 3,000 inhabitants, only 200-300 have remained today. The residents began to flee the urban settlement when Dastakert copper-molybdenum ore concentrator and then the medical equipment plant were closed one after another in the city.
Dastakert, formerly being an industrial settlement, is deprived of the necessary infrastructure for rural activities. There are not enough arable lands, and the pastures are quite far from the settlement, which creates serious obstacles for the development of fieldwork and animal husbandry. "People do not have their own lands, arable lands. There was a settlement here, there used to be a production," Dastakert administrative representative Nairi Filosyan said.
In fact, Dastakert can be an indicator to understand what problems the community will face after the cessation of mining activities. Oleg Dulgaryan, President of " Center Community for Mobilization and Support " NGO, who visited the city, mentioned that it is a priority to think about alternative solutions and development in the mining centers in order not to have the fate of Dastakert. "Solutions must be found that will bring people back to that settlement, so that it does not eventually become a ruin, so that it will be possible to live and develop in that settlement in the future," he said.
Ruins with Environmental Problems
Unfortunately, the problems of Dastakert are not limited to half-empty and abandoned buildings. The plant, which was liquidated in the 1970s, left an abandoned landfill site and an uncultivated tailings pond. Over the years, the latter has dried up, been covered with certain vegetation, and continues to ferment many toxic substances and heavy metals, which cause regular pollution of the Ayri River flowing near the tailing dump.
According to Inga Zarafyan, President of EcoLur Informational NGO, there is a leak from the tailing dump, which mixes with rainwater and snowmelt and flows into the Ayri River, then Tolors Reservoir. "Since 1975, our precious water resources have been chronically poisoned, which serve not only for energy purposes, but also for irrigation. The environment of Dastakert is being polluted," she said.
After almost half a century of silence in the settlement, activity was observed in 2012, when "Molybdenum World" LLC signed a contract with the state for the subsoil use of the Dastakert mine. However, the company's activities in Dastakert were limited to resource exploration, not ensuring the reasonable and comprehensive use of the subsoil as defined by RA Subsoil Code, violating the requirements of Article 4, Part 1 (6) of the Code. As a result, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure terminated the soil management right of Molybdenum World LLC in 2020, which the company appealed in court.
Referring to the contract signed between "Molybdenum World" and the state, Inga Zarafyan pointed out one possible gap. "When the state gave a positive conclusion to the company, there was no demand for the company to take responsibility and present a plan for waste management and closure of the tailing dump. There are no requirements of measures. It turns out that they can extract something and leave it like the other company. This is a serious violation of the law. We have an uncertain situation. No one knows what company should come, who should take on that responsibility," she said.
According to Nairi Filosyan, the issue of the tailing dump was dealt with in the past, but to no avail. "We applied to everybody regarding this issue in the 2000s. There was a plan that the river should not flow through the tailing dump, a separate canal should be built. Officials came, looked around, but did nothing, everything remained the same. But everyone is aware of what is happening here," he said.
Article was prepared within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" Project.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
November 04, 2021 at 15:01