EcoLur- the Aarhus Center in Gavar
The discussion participants in the Aarhus Center in Gavar require from Nature Protection Ministry of RA and Public Prosecutor’s Office of RA to perform obligations imposed on them in regard with Lake Sevan conservation – a state, strategic and national priority and to ensure the decision on dismantling the illegal construction on the Argitchi River with needed legal instruments. The problem is as follows: though Nature Protection Ministry of RA, as well as the Committee on Lake Sevan Issues by President of Armenia recognized illegal the building of a small hydropower plant on Gayladzor, a tributary to the Argitchi River, but nothing was said about the damage caused by “Zangezour Eximp” to environment. The matter is the illegal civil works resulted in violation of the Argitchi River ecosystem, an artery to Lake Sevan. Regional Governor Never Poghosyan demanded to dismantle the construction within one month in his letter and to recover the landscape.
Nevertheless, this letter doesn’t have any compulsory force. We think Nature Protection Ministry of RA didn’t perform its main obligations in regard with Lake Sevan ecosystem conservation, the State Environmental Inspection didn’t give any assessment to damage caused to Lake Sevan ecosystem due to civil works, ecosystem of mountain landscapes, including water resources of mountain springs. The Public Prosecutor’s Office called neither the company to order, nor the representatives of the local police who had organized a real roundup for the people who were protection their right to water and life, and the state priority-Lake Sevan. (See photos)
We demand from Nature Protection Ministry to perform obligations imposed on them in regard with Lake Sevan ecosystem and drainage basin conservation, preservation of mountain landscape ecosystems, preservation of freshwater strategic reserves within tight deadlines in order to
• To carry out checks on the spot of illegal construction,
• To assess damage caused to Lake Sevan ecosystem and mountain landscape ecosystems, including freshwater strategic reserves,
• To ensure dismantling process of the illegal construction through acts drawn up by the State Environmental Inspection by mentioning the amount of damage
• To set up a monitoring group together with local administration bodies and community representatives to control the abovementioned demands.
We demand from Public Prosecutor’s Office of RA:
To investigate the activities of “Zangezour Eximp” Company in regard with the construction of Gayladzor, a tributary to the Argitchi River, and to ensure performance of the Governor’s written assignment on dismantling of the illegal construction.
October 29, 2010