EcoLur
For already several years Shnogh villagers have been complaining of deterioration of drinking water. They say it’s due to works carried out by Vallex Company at Teghout copper and molybdenum mine.
Shnogh village head Hovik Sahakyan, “Teghout mine development is an established fact whether we want it or don’t. We are not able to resist to it. But in my earnest conviction, the mine development is accompanies with serious environmental problems.
Levon Alikhanyan, Shnogh Villager, “It’s already several years since Vallex Company has been planting forest. Already after two years this forest should be passed to the forestry enterprise with 60% survival. However, it’s not possible, because the forest should be taken care of and to make replenishments…But what does happen? Agricultural land areas are used for afforestation and we lose our pastures. Let them plant 1 ha instead of 10 ha, but in a proper manner. Let them do it well, as Khosrov King did…But we have already lost several hundreds hectares of land areas and we keep on losing them…”
Vardan Vardanyan, Shnogh Villager, “300 ha of land areas were left under the tailing dump. And no compensation… We don’t benefit anything from this mine, they benefits belong to its owners and their servants…”
Village Head, “I’m aware of these problems. They damage nature and pollute it…But we have forest and water there..No damages… I haven’t eye witnessed any process that the social issues of two villages were decided in a satisfactory manner. Forest planting in Shnogh and Teghout occupied 67 ha. If this planting is of good quality, it doesn’t matter, it won’t replace the chopped down forests. We need other programs to solve the problem with drinking water, roads, public buildings, this is what will be a result… Drinking water is a serious problem. Before the company arrival the village didn’t experience any problems with drinking water. It was not cleaned and filtered…Now it has completely deteriorated…you can meet any organism in this water…”
Levon Alikhanyan: What to say if one square meter of land was bought from us at a price equal to a box of matches. I won’t get surprised, if forest is planted on the paper…
Village Head: People are brought here on buses, while our people leave..I spoke with the company about these problems. It turns out, if somebody is not employed at the company, s/he has to leave…
Levon Alikhanyan: Just have a look, you can’t wear a white shirt in the summer, it immediately gets dirty because of the dust...The bottom of the tailing dump is 50 meters above Shnogh. How our aqceducts will be protected from tails? Whoever stays will lose everything…
April 15, 2013 at 12:02