Enlarged community Odzun in Lori Region has a number of social and environmental problems, such as a lack of jobs, environmental pollution due to mining infrastructure, and deteriorating health of the population. On November 18, 2021, a meeting was held in Odzun within the framework of "Socio-Ecological Responsibility" project to discuss these problems and suggestions for their solution or mitigation, and the implementation of alternative community development programs.
Enlarged Odzun community includes Odzun, Amoj, Aygehat, Ardvi, Artsatsag, Tsater, Karmir Aghek, Hagvi, and Mghart settlements. Out of the registered residents in the community, only 3408 are employed, whose main occupation is cattle-breeding and agriculture. The agricultural land areas in Odzun are 9323 hectares.
Rosa Julhakyan, PhD in Chemical Sciences, Expert of "Socio-Ecological Responsibility" program, presented the socio-ecological problems of the community during her meeting with the active population of the enlarged community of Odzun and the representatives of the local self-government body.
"Multi Group Concern" LLC operates in the territory of Odzun Community, which owns the soil management right of mineral bodies No. 5 and No. 8 of Mghart gold mine. The company has 40.09 hectares of subsoil use in Mghart settlement.
The company's infrastructure is the main polluter of the settlement. The operations of Mghart gold mine has led to the chemical pollution of the community areas, the violation of the locals’ rights to a healthy environment. Mghart gold mine tailing dump is located in Mghart area, with a projected volume of 0.1 million cubic meters, the actual volume of which is 0.08 million cubic meters, according to World Bank's Strategic Assessment for Mining Sustainability: Armenia" publication.
According to the information provided by Nature Protection and Mining Inspection Body in 2020, "Multi Group Concern" LLC has been operating the mine since 2011 without a water use permit, the existing structures in the area of the mine were built without an expert opinion on the impact on the environment, the limits of permissible emissions were violated.
As of 2020, there is no data on the level of soil pollution on the website of the "Hydro-Meteorological
According to the report fild by "Multi Group Concern" LLC published on the website of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative of Armenia (EITI), Odzun community was paid 2489589 AMD land rent in 2018-2019, 2166 AMD land tax in 2017-2019, and property tax of 17060 AMD 2017- 2019 for each year.
The other polluter in Odzun Community is the landfill dump about 1.4 km northwest of Hagvi village, which was formed as a result of shallow, underground mountain excavations at Hagvi copper mine. The tails waste accumulated in the area is considered as ownerless. These landfills are sources of soil, surface and groundwater pollution.
The other potential polluter was Alaverdi copper smelter for many years: its emissions reached Odzun through winds.
"Multi Group Concern" company has not undertaken obligations supporting the socio-economic development of the affected community in its soil management contract. H&Air Felsite LLC, which operates Tsater-Kachagan felsite tuff mine, does not have such obligations either.
However, certain social programs have been implemented in the community.
According to the State Revenue Committee, in accordance with RA Law on Targeted Use of Environmental Tax Paid by Companies, the following subsidies were given to Odzun community for environmental programs in 2017:
1. Project on the protection of the natural environment in Odzun settlement, restoration of the population's health, budget 19806.2 thousand AMD.
2. Hagvi village environmental program, budget 30051.1 thousand AMD.
3. Akori village environmental program, budget 24903.2 thousand AMD.
The following subsidies were given to Odzun Community for environmental programs in 2018:
1 ․ Environmental program of Akori village, budget 1372.6 thousand AMD.
In 2019, the following subsidies were given to Odzun community for environmental projects:
1. Program for the protection of the natural environment in Odzun and Hagvi settlements and restoration of public health, budget 22076.80 thousand AMD.
2. Program for protection of the natural environment of Odzun settlement, restoration of the population's health, budget 6393.6 thousand AMD.
The participants of the meeting voiced the need for reconstruction of the irrigation network for access to clean and safe water for the development of agriculture. It turned out that 60% of the land is currently not irrigated. There is a need to build a joint collector of drinking water and sewage lines in Hagvi, Ardvi, Mghart settlements, whereas the lands of Hagvi village are completely deprived of irrigation water.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is implemented in the partnership of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Community Mobilization and Support Center” NGO and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
December 03, 2021 at 18:32