EcoLur presents the results of the study conducted in Tsiatsan Community in Armavir Region in connection with the impact of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), emergency preparedness, awareness of safety measures, participation in the decision-making process and community social issues.
The people in Tsiatsan community, 9 km away from the ANPP, are experiencing health problems. They want studies to be conducted in the community to determine the impact of radiation on their health and the environment. "We are not aware of the impact of the nuclear power plant. Maybe it impacts, but we did not understand… We have always fed ourselves with what we have cultivated but we would like to do research in order to know what we eat… Maybe our fertilizer, in addition to radiation, has an effect. They should show us how to do it,” the residents told EcoLur.
In case of doubling the term of operation of the second power unit of the ANPP, they see dangers in the question, Tsiatsan Deputy Community Head Artyom Yeghiazaryan responded. "The older the system gets, the more measures must be taken. If we are not aware of the operation of the nuclear power plant, how do we know the extent of danger? We understand that there is a danger, but we can not imagine its extent."
He valued much importance to the community-ANPP dialogue and holdings meetings, which is currently missing.
"I want to know if we are safe or not. Be aware of hazards and emissions. We are not aware of the safety belt. We do not know what effect it has on agricultural products, is the strawberry grown in our community dangerous, which we eat?",- community Municipality employees mentioned their concerns.
The municipality informed EcoLur that they are cooperating with the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations.
"I want to know whether or not we are safe, we want to be aware of hazards and emissions. We are not aware of the safety belt. We do not know what effect it has on agricultural products, whether the strawberry grown in our community is dangerous?
The municipality informed EcoLur that they are cooperating with the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations.
"Preparatory exercises are being held with the Ministry of Emergency Situations. We have a civil defense register. We have instructions that in case of an accident we must evacuate the residents to Mrgastan. We have informed the people about it. We tested the horn in April 2021. The school staff and students took refuge in the basement and adjoining basements of the school, and we took refuge in the basements adjacent to the municipality. We have 170 basements in our community with a population of 1350 people. Those who do not have a basement know where they will take shelter,” Artyom Yeghiazaryan said. Under him, the basements are in a normal condition.
"The top of the school basement is covered with concrete, there are no windows. The others are the basements of the residents' houses," Yeghiazaryan said. The residents also confirmed that: "It will serve as a refuge. It has an iron door. About 70-80 people can take refuge with me. I have two basements with a surface of the entire house.” A Tsiatsan resident responded to the observation that they would be able to stay for a few days. "All the food meant for winter is there so that nothing else can happen, we can endure it for two days. We just have nothing for first aid.”
EcoLur has disseminated awareness-raising leaflets in Tsiatsan on actions to be taken in case of radiation danger alarm signal
Obstacles to agricultural development in Tsiatsan
In Tsiatsan, the issue of selling food and irrigation water is a priority for the people who are mainly engaged in vegetable growing. "The water comes from Sevan, which can be cut off for a week. They told us to be patient. How can I tell the plant to be patient, you will get water in a week? We mainly cultivate wheat and potatoes. We water four times a year. But the water is switched off for 4-5 days, the whole village needs water.”
August 09, 2021 at 15:16