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FIGHTING FOR TRCHKAN: ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE MINISTRY TO BAN HYDRO CONSTRUCTION ON PROTECTED WATERFALL
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 11:14
Environmentalists in Armenia continue to campaign against the
construction of a hydropower plant (HPP) at a waterfall on the border
of the northern provinces of Shirak and Lori. Construction of such
a facility, meanwhile, is underway.
Members of a pressure group, "Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall", on
Monday sent a letter to the Ministry of Nature Protection demanding an
immediate end to the construction at the waterfall which is recognized
as a specially protected area.
Trchkan is the tallest and most abundant waterfall in Armenia (25.5
meters) and, according to environmentalists, the construction of an HPP
at the top of the waterfall may prove disastrous for the waterfall's
existence. Environmentalists point out that the Ministry of Nature
Protection has violated the law by providing a positive environmental
conclusion to the HPP's construction in an area, which is a protected
monument of nature since 2008.
During a meeting with reporters on Monday Ministry of Nature Protection
official Harutyun Harutyunyan, in fact, did not deny that the Ministry
"was wrong". He said that "it happened independently from the Ministry"
and now the Ministry, together with the parties concerned, is trying
"to find a right way."
"Now it has turned out that on the one hand there is the specially
protected area, on the other hand is a businessman who has all the
legal documents and wants to carry out the construction project. The
Ministry of Nature Protection has the goal of not affecting the values
of the Trchkan waterfall, that is the abundance of its waters, etc,
and that an HPP be built, and we now think of how to minimize this
damage," said Harutyunyan.
According to the Ministry representative, the HPP will work only
during spring months when waters of the waterfall are in a larger
amount. Environmentalists, however, are skeptical in this respect.
"We can name five such waterfalls, one of which, Shakeh, has already
become humpbacked. We take students to the Shakeh waterfall and must
pay to the HPP owner to open the water valve and he will do so only
if he wishes. We want to develop tourism, but it can't be developed
this way. Compensation should be given to the man [the owner of the
Robshin company building the HPP], or else he should show his good
will and let the waterfall alone," says leading environmentalist
Karine Danielyan, who heads the For Sustainable Human Development NGO.
Danielyan is inclined to think that the Ministry wants to preserve the
waterfall. She suggests the HPP be built at the foot of the waterfall.
The Ministry official, however, says this will be more costly for
the station owner.
Member of the "Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall" initiative,
environmental expert Armen Vermishyan says on Facebook that Nature
Protection Minister Armen Harutyunyan wants to meet with them.
Harutyunyan, in his turn, informed the public that the Ministry is
inviting all interested parties to participate in public hearings.
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 11:14
Environmentalists in Armenia continue to campaign against the
construction of a hydropower plant (HPP) at a waterfall on the border
of the northern provinces of Shirak and Lori. Construction of such
a facility, meanwhile, is underway.
Members of a pressure group, "Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall", on
Monday sent a letter to the Ministry of Nature Protection demanding an
immediate end to the construction at the waterfall which is recognized
as a specially protected area.
Trchkan is the tallest and most abundant waterfall in Armenia (25.5
meters) and, according to environmentalists, the construction of an HPP
at the top of the waterfall may prove disastrous for the waterfall's
existence. Environmentalists point out that the Ministry of Nature
Protection has violated the law by providing a positive environmental
conclusion to the HPP's construction in an area, which is a protected
monument of nature since 2008.
During a meeting with reporters on Monday Ministry of Nature Protection
official Harutyun Harutyunyan, in fact, did not deny that the Ministry
"was wrong". He said that "it happened independently from the Ministry"
and now the Ministry, together with the parties concerned, is trying
"to find a right way."
"Now it has turned out that on the one hand there is the specially
protected area, on the other hand is a businessman who has all the
legal documents and wants to carry out the construction project. The
Ministry of Nature Protection has the goal of not affecting the values
of the Trchkan waterfall, that is the abundance of its waters, etc,
and that an HPP be built, and we now think of how to minimize this
damage," said Harutyunyan.
According to the Ministry representative, the HPP will work only
during spring months when waters of the waterfall are in a larger
amount. Environmentalists, however, are skeptical in this respect.
"We can name five such waterfalls, one of which, Shakeh, has already
become humpbacked. We take students to the Shakeh waterfall and must
pay to the HPP owner to open the water valve and he will do so only
if he wishes. We want to develop tourism, but it can't be developed
this way. Compensation should be given to the man [the owner of the
Robshin company building the HPP], or else he should show his good
will and let the waterfall alone," says leading environmentalist
Karine Danielyan, who heads the For Sustainable Human Development NGO.
Danielyan is inclined to think that the Ministry wants to preserve the
waterfall. She suggests the HPP be built at the foot of the waterfall.
The Ministry official, however, says this will be more costly for
the station owner.
Member of the "Let's Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall" initiative,
environmental expert Armen Vermishyan says on Facebook that Nature
Protection Minister Armen Harutyunyan wants to meet with them.
Harutyunyan, in his turn, informed the public that the Ministry is
inviting all interested parties to participate in public hearings.