General Thought Like That: To Construct SHPP

EcoLur

Gomq Village resident, “These pipes will be used to construct a SHPP…The General owns these pipes…He thought like that…” Another SHPP is being constructed in Gomq Village, Vayots Dzor Region. «Gomq» SHPP is in the list of SHPP projects of German-Armenian Fund submitted for funding to German KfW Development Bank.

Gomq Village has good perspectives for tourism development. The village is located in a picturesque place and has an interesting history. It’s famous for an amazing and unique sample of the Armenian architecture: a cross-stone chapel, which is invaluable obelisk with its structure, idea, sculptures. Under the preserved inscription, the cross-stone chapel was constructed in 1263. In the center of the village you can find church ruins dating back to 16-17^th centuries. Nowadays the community has over 80 families with nearly 287 villagers. They mainly deal with agriculture and have ecologically clean product: a question arises – whether they will be able to develop agriculture and tourism due to the privileges they have, if a SHPP is constructed on the Akhtaget.

As it turned out, the villagers of Gomq Village aren’t even aware of the construction of the SHPP. “We didn’t even know a SHPP is going to be constructed, when we learn it, they had already launched construction works,” the villagers said.

“No public hearings were held as such to inform the people what is taking place. They didn’t gather the people and didn’t present anything,” the villagers said and added, “We think, it’s not only our community, the whole Armenia is in this situation – unaware and no protection of rights.”

October 22, 2013 at 14:24