EcoLur
“Protect our rights at the government, not here…Let them allow us to get free-of-charge energy from this HPP! Whoever wants to construct a HPP, he protects both us and our nature…Otherwise everything would be destroyed long ago…I don’t believe that the HPP constructed by him can cause us any damage…This is the common positions of Hermon villagers announced by them at the public hearings on “Nane” SHP on 19 March. The public hearings were organized by “AratesEnergy” LLC (owned by Hovik Ohanyan), Hermon village administration and village head Hay Ohanyan. The hearings were participated by David Ohanyan, representative of “AratesEnergy” LLC, Hermon villagers, Yeghegnadzor Aarhus Center Coordinator Narek Beglaryan, project developer Stepan Papikyan, Zaruhi Zurnachyan, the representation of Environmental Expertise of Nature Protection Ministry and EcoLur working group.”
Hermon villager, “The tributary, where the HPP should be constructed, is upwards, while we take water from the lower part. We are located far from other communities, so we can construct other HPPs as well…It doesn’t disturb us…”
Another Hermon villager, “…In 2005 the government deprived us of incomes derived from HPP. When this decision was adopted, our community lost one million ADM per year. We have many HPPs, while property tax was reduced by 10 times. It was promised to give us certain part of this tax, nevertheless, it didn’t happen…”
Village Head Gay Ohanyan, “Well, it means there was need to reduce it.”
Inga Zarafyan, EcoLur, “That is, that’s normal for you.”
Village Head, “Sure, not.”
Inga Zarafyan, “The project doesn’t mention anything about the impact on the drainage basin of the Yeghegis River, where two SHPs already have impact on it. The impact on red-listed animals is also not mentioned. Nearby is Yeghegis reserve, which is also not mentioned in the project, as well as no word about red-listed animals and migration corridors…Animals drink water from the river…Here the old Red Book is cited, while it lost its force, as there is new one…”
Stepan Papikyan, “We have some part about red-listed animals, the capacity of our SHP is 200 kw, while the pipes run along the main road. Roads are used by cars, what it has in common with red-listed species?”
Inga Zarafyan, “We speak about the water, and not the tranche: the animals are deprived of water.”
Stepan Papikyan, “We have the governmental decision, under which the environmental flow is left. We also designed a fish gate. Water is not subject to any changes. It’s proven, as such stations are constructed in Armenia and all over the world, which is welcomed. It doesn’t have any impact on the climate and the temperature.”
Inga Zarafyan, “Is there any fish in the river?”
Stepan Papikyan, “River trout. There are two tributaries: we take only one and won’t do any harm to the water.”
Inga Zarafyan, “What are the benefits for the community?”
Villagers: “We support it, as we will be employed for the construction, then will work at HPP by shifts.” Today it’s a problem to get work... the former HPP doesn’t disturb us either...These people promised to plant 2000 trees...”
Inga Zarafyan, “Are you familiar with the project?”
Village Head: “I don’t know about women, but men are familiar with it. They well know where out water is, HPP will be located and before giving their consent, they discuss whether or not it will disturb them.”
Zaruhi Zurnachyan: “Express your opinion to the Ministry.”
March 26, 2013 at 19:13