ENVIRONMENTALISTS DECIDE TO FIGHT FOR LAKE SEVAN ON THEIR OWN
arminfo
Tuesday, October 18, 18:21
The environmentalists and green activists have decided to fight for
preservation of Lake Sevan on their own. "Our impression is that the
official departments responsible for the Sevan and for maintenance
of its ecosystem have got so much tired of the lake problems that
they no longer pay attention to even the most serious alarm signals",
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said in her interview with ArmInfo.
She pointed out that over 20 enterprises are working near the Sevan,
among them an asphalt plant, as well as the Geghamet Plus company,
which is chopping dunite and peridotite raw at Shorzha deposit.
"The activities of Geghamet Plus have resulted in the throw of
chromiferous dust into the lake. Our officials, even the high-ranking
ones, are not going to implement their own mission. This automatically
means the death of Lake Sevan", Zarafyan stressed.
She recalled that this is not the first year that the environmentalists
are paying attention to the low quality of cleaning activities near
Lake Sevan under the water raising level program.
"Expensive equipment from Finland has been acquired to get rid of the
underwater timber, however, this does not change the situation. The
equipment only operates in the areas near the summer cottages of
oligarchs and representatives of power. And almost nothing is being
done, for instance, near Tufenkian Hotel", the expert said.
The rivers running into the Sevan also pollute the lake. "They are in
a horrifying state. There is everything in these rivers, including
effluents and elementary garbage. They are constantly speaking of
some garbage recycling plant and some special dump. Some projects are
being worked out, some money is allocated, but in practice everything
remains the same", Zarafyan said.
She also pointed out the fact that Lake Sevan has lacked commercial
fish stock for several years. "Last year, just for the fun of it, we
visited the restaurants near the Sevan, and all of them had whitefish
in their menus, whereas fishing was banned. In the restaurants the
small whitefish costs 3,000 AMD - it is more expensive than the
trout and even the meat. This means that there is no fish any more",
she said.
To solve the unresolved problems of the lake, the environmentalists
have decided to join forces and launch SOS-Sevan campaign.
"We want to apply to all the instances, to the top leadership of the
country, and to the international organizations. We are glad to say
that our foreign colleagues do not keep aloof. For instance, we have
already received a response from an environmental organization of
Kyrgyzstan", Zarafyan said.
arminfo
Tuesday, October 18, 18:21
The environmentalists and green activists have decided to fight for
preservation of Lake Sevan on their own. "Our impression is that the
official departments responsible for the Sevan and for maintenance
of its ecosystem have got so much tired of the lake problems that
they no longer pay attention to even the most serious alarm signals",
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said in her interview with ArmInfo.
She pointed out that over 20 enterprises are working near the Sevan,
among them an asphalt plant, as well as the Geghamet Plus company,
which is chopping dunite and peridotite raw at Shorzha deposit.
"The activities of Geghamet Plus have resulted in the throw of
chromiferous dust into the lake. Our officials, even the high-ranking
ones, are not going to implement their own mission. This automatically
means the death of Lake Sevan", Zarafyan stressed.
She recalled that this is not the first year that the environmentalists
are paying attention to the low quality of cleaning activities near
Lake Sevan under the water raising level program.
"Expensive equipment from Finland has been acquired to get rid of the
underwater timber, however, this does not change the situation. The
equipment only operates in the areas near the summer cottages of
oligarchs and representatives of power. And almost nothing is being
done, for instance, near Tufenkian Hotel", the expert said.
The rivers running into the Sevan also pollute the lake. "They are in
a horrifying state. There is everything in these rivers, including
effluents and elementary garbage. They are constantly speaking of
some garbage recycling plant and some special dump. Some projects are
being worked out, some money is allocated, but in practice everything
remains the same", Zarafyan said.
She also pointed out the fact that Lake Sevan has lacked commercial
fish stock for several years. "Last year, just for the fun of it, we
visited the restaurants near the Sevan, and all of them had whitefish
in their menus, whereas fishing was banned. In the restaurants the
small whitefish costs 3,000 AMD - it is more expensive than the
trout and even the meat. This means that there is no fish any more",
she said.
To solve the unresolved problems of the lake, the environmentalists
have decided to join forces and launch SOS-Sevan campaign.
"We want to apply to all the instances, to the top leadership of the
country, and to the international organizations. We are glad to say
that our foreign colleagues do not keep aloof. For instance, we have
already received a response from an environmental organization of
Kyrgyzstan", Zarafyan said.