Geghanush tailing dump is located in the administrative territory of Geghanush settlement of Kapan enlarged community in Syunik Region, a few hundred meters away from residential houses, ang pollutes the environment and harms human health. Gurgen Hayrapetyan, a Geghanush resident, said that the mortality rate among the population has become younger, անդ animals are born with rickets. "If it is sunny for a few days and then it rains, the whole village with its windows and cars are covered with the mud. In dry weather, it brings tails dust to the village. The trees are drying up," he said. Artur Elchyan, a Geghanush resident, told EcoLur. "People in this district bring animals here, they have to take them 15 km away to graze elsewhere,".
Geghanush residents are also experiencing a problem with selling agricultural products. Geghanush resident, former member of Kapan Aldermen’s Council Ivan Kostandyan said in his conversation with EcoLur. "People know that the tailing dump harms both crops and animals, that's why they don't buy our goods."
Geghanush Tailing Dump is visible from balcony of Geghanush residents
Geghanush tailing dump affects the land areas of Geghanush Village, Kapan Town, the regional center of Syunik. The tailing dump is operated by Chaarat Kapan CJSC, which is Kapan Ore Processing Plant and Shahumyan Polymetallic Gold Mine.
Inga Zarafyan, President of EcoLur Informational NGO, noted that it is necessary to monitor the areas adjacent to the tailing dump at the official level. Nazeli Vardanyan, Director of "Forests of Armenia" NGO, added that the new sampling will enable the residents to defend their rights more objectively and effectively in the future.
About Geghanush tailing dump
As of 2006, the actual volume of tails accumulated in Geghanush tailing dump accounted for 4.6 million cubic meters. However, after the re-operation of the tailing dump, the total volume of the expansion project would increase to 11.37 million cubic meters. In 2018, "Kapan OPC" CJSC submitted a request for a preliminary environmental impact assessment of "Geghanush Tailing Dump Safety and Reliability Works" project. Under the project, the actual condition of the Geghanush tailing dump does not comply with the working design and safety requirements.
In particular, the results of the calculation of the stability of the actual condition of the Northern dam by "Georisk" company showed that the stability of the Northern dam is not ensured in the event of a maximum earthquake of 8.5 magnitude. "In the event of a seismic impact exceeding 8.5 on the downstream of the dam, the dam may collapse, leaking pulp, which may cover areas under the dam, including production facilities, other buildings, communications and other infrastructure.
Along with the dam, the section of the road passing through the dam of Geghanush settlement will be demolished. The leaked tails will cover a section of the interstate M17 road. The tails can then flood the Voghji riverbed, creating a risk of flooding the M2 interstate highway, which is especially dangerous in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, as there will be obstacles to operational response to the aforementioned disaster relief efforts,” the project says.
However, this project has not undergone impact assessment. No official information on the safety of the tailing dump has been publicized.
At the time of the visit to the village, work was being done on the tailing dump. "Chaarat Kapan" CJSC informed the residents that the road passing by the tailing dump is being repaired, but according to the residents, work is also being done on the dam itself.
"It seems that the front part of the tailing dump is being strengthened, which means that tails will be filled again from the back part, so the level will rise. But how far should they go? It is clear that some area has been rented. They did not ask for an opinion, they did not hold a meeting. I do not know with whom the contract was signed without asking the public. But if the territory is measured, there will be many violations",- said Gurgen Hayrapetyan. Arthur Elchyan mentioned that no one informed them about the work being done at present, no public hearings were held in the village. However, this is a violation of the law. Nazeli Vardanyan mentioned that an expert impact assessment should have been carried out to raise the tailing dump. "The impact assessment was not carried out because neither the residents nor we are aware of the hearings. Even if they have received permission, it will be an illegal activity, because reconstruction and addition of the tailing dump are allowed only under the conditions of a new impact assessment," she stressed out.
November 15, 2021 at 14:42