The conflict between "Argitchi" small hydropower plant (SHPP) and the affected communities remains unresolved. Local residents complain about the lack of irrigation water, not receiving compensation for damages caused by pipeline explosions, and the absence of corporate social responsibility toward the settlements.
This SHPP is built on the Argitchi River, which flows into Lake Sevan. Water intake is carried out in the administrative area of Madina village, and water discharge is in the administrative area of Verin Getashen village. The affected settlements are Madina, Verin Getashen, and Nerkin Getashen. The SHPP is operated by Hydro Corporation CJSC. The SHPP was built using loan funds from the German Development Bank KfW.
"Argitchi" SHPP was constructed based on expired documents. The environmental impact assessment was issued in 2006, but the construction took place in 2012, and it was commissioned in 2013. However, according to Armenia's environmental legislation at the time, the environmental impact assessment would lose its validity if the planned activity did not commence within one year.
In July 2013, the first pipeline explosion occurred at the SHPP. Just two months later, in September 2013, the SHPP pipeline burst again. Residents reported that the barley harvest had been destroyed. Hydro Corporation compensated the affected individuals with 40,000 AMD. The residents considered the compensation insufficient. Before tensions subsided, in the spring of 2014, the SHPP pipeline burst again. This incident revealed significant technical violations in the construction of the SHPP.
In March 2016, the EcoLur expert group conducted monitoring at the main node and station of the HPP. According to experts, "Over the years, the conflict between the SHPP and the community escalated." In the winter of 2019, the residents of Verin Getashen closed the SHPP valve, demanding the fulfillment of social obligations to the community in the amount of 50 million AMD annually. The company described this as "outright extortion" and refused. At the time, Verin Getashen community leader Tigran Muradyan presented the issue to the Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, Suren Papikyan, and Gegharkunik Regional Head, Gnel Sanosyan. The community leader stated that after the operation of the SHPP, 350 hectares of land remained unirrigated. There is a problem of fish species destruction, and during the installation of pipelines, people's lands were damaged, but they did not receive proportional compensation.
In 2021, a new explosion was reported, which once again caused significant damage to residents.
What is the current situation in the SHPP-affected settlements, according to residents?
EcoLur's filming crew visited Verin Getashen and met with local residents.
"My land was a paradise; now look at its condition," said Verin Getashen resident Anna Petrosyan, pointing to her land, through which "Argitchi" HPP pipeline passes. After the explosion, the land became unusable. "We signed an initial agreement with the company, agreeing on compensation of 2 million AMD. I sent letters to Karen Karapetyan and Nikol Pashinyan... years have passed, and our land has remained uncultivated for so long, increasing the damage. I called them, and they said, 'Go to court,' Anna Petrosyan noted.
"Without asking anyone’s opinion, they entered and ruined our lands. We assessed the damage at 1 million AMD, and they offered 30,000 AMD. I have written several letters to the government, with no result," another local resident complained.
"I am an engineer. I have said that this is a dangerous, flawed structure. We ask the government to check the lawfulness of the HPP construction. It does not meet technical standards. What right do they have to run a high-pressure pipeline along the edge of the road and then through lands? It’s dangerous. We have argued with them 100 times," another resident noted.
According to locals, the operation of the SHPP disrupted the irrigation process.
"They should release water along the riverbed, but they completely block it. About 20 kilometers of the river dries up completely, destroying biodiversity. They cut off the water and the fish. People lived here for these resources... I fought for this daily for two years, appealing to the Prime Minister and President, with no result," the residents complained.
Residents have even taken the matter to court, demanding compensation.
Deputy Head of Martuni Municipality, Vahagn Davtyan, stated that "Argitchi" SHPP operator does not implement social programs in the community or make transfers to the community budget. "There was no agreement before or after the enlargement. If they are benefiting from our region, they should also contribute to solving the problems of the community," Vahagn Davtyan outlined.
"The HPPs built in our region exploit the natural resources of our territory, earning super-profits. They must bear corporate social responsibility," Anahit Gevorgyan, President of "Martuni Women’s Council" NGO, noted.
The article was produced with the financial support of the Media Initiatives Center within the framework of "Expanding Production of Independent Content" grant project.
November 30, 2024 at 00:37