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Environmental Activists In Gilan: "We'Ll Tear That Building Down Wit

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  • Environmental Activists In Gilan: "We'Ll Tear That Building Down Wit

    ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS IN GILAN: "WE'LL TEAR THAT BUILDING DOWN WITH OUR OWN HANDS"
    Kristine Aghalaryan

    hetq
    09:04, July 19, 2012

    There's a building in the Gilan Section of the Khosrov Forest State
    Reserve whose status remains in limbo.

    In 2007, the Armenian government changed the zoning status of a
    118 hectare section of the reserve known as the Gilan section. This
    allowed for the commercial leasing of the site and the construction
    of the building in question. At the time, many were concerned that
    the building was to be used as a restaurant.

    Later, the government nullified its earlier decision but the question
    about what to do with the nearly completed structure remains up in
    the air.

    Khosrov Reserve Director Varantsov Barseghyan wants the building to
    stand and to be converted into a nature museum.

    Barseghyan made his view known to a group of visiting environmental
    activists and government officials who went to Khosrov to check on
    another matter; the building of an 8 kilometer road in the reserve.

    The activists also voiced their concerns about the now illegal
    building to First Deputy Environmental Minister Simon Papyan, who
    had accompanied them to Khosrov.

    The 188 hectare section had been leased to a company called Hovazadzor
    Ltd. The company claimed that the site would be used to conduct a
    project seeking to preserve the flora and fauna and to study ways to
    utilize natural resources in a sustainable manner.

    The activists complained that at the time the public was not included
    in the decision-making process regarding the rezoning of the reserve.

    Most called for the building to be removed since it was a cement
    eyesore.

    Director Barseghyan suggested that the building could be used for
    positive aims.

    A government created committee to look into the matter has yet to
    publish its opinion on what should be done.

    First Deputy Minister Papyan told the activists that one alternate
    was to compensate the builder of the structure and to use the building
    for another purpose.

    The young environmental activists balked at this suggestion and argued
    that the official who signed the original rezoning permit should be
    responsible for any compensation.

    Director Barseghyan responded that the construction debris resulting
    from dismantling the building would create an even larger problem
    and that the structure should remain.

    "If need be, we'll tear it down with our own hands and load the debris
    into the dump trucks," said activist Yeghia Nersisyan.


    From: Baghdasarian
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