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FORESTS AT THE SOUTH OF ARMENIA ENDANGERED: 9 SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS TO BE BUILT ON MEGHRI RIVER
arminfo
Wednesday, June 27, 19:48
The south of Armenia faces a hard situation: the forests may disappear
due to construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) on the river
Meghri.
Head of WWF-Armenia Karen Manvelyan told ArmInfo that it is envisaged
to build 9 hydropower plants on the river. At the moment two small HPPs
are being set up on the Meghri, and for that purpose the Government
has changed the category of the lands included in "Arevik" National
Park. "The river Meghri is one of the unique rivers in this region,
which does not dry up in summer. If the whole water is released into
the pipes of the HPPs, this will lead to destruction of the forest,
biodiversity and will also cause natural disasters", Manvelyan
stressed.
The expert stressed that the river Meghri flows near "Arevik" National
Park. "The forests were formed there over millenniums due to the
microclimate created by the river. There will no longer be such a
microclimate because of a few HPPs", Manvelyan said. He stressed that
the Nature Protection Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry gave a
negative assessment to the project of construction of the HPPs on the
river. However, this circumstance did not disturb the Government to
change the category of the lands.
Manvelyan also pointed out that the WWF negatively estimates such
decisions taken at the high level for the sake of business interests.
"It should not be so. It is necessary to take into account the opinions
of all the parties, including the public's opinion", he said.
Earlier EcoLur NGO reported that the project of construction of two
small HPPs on the river Meghri was worked out by Governor of Syunik
region Souren Khachatryan.
arminfo
Wednesday, June 27, 19:48
The south of Armenia faces a hard situation: the forests may disappear
due to construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) on the river
Meghri.
Head of WWF-Armenia Karen Manvelyan told ArmInfo that it is envisaged
to build 9 hydropower plants on the river. At the moment two small HPPs
are being set up on the Meghri, and for that purpose the Government
has changed the category of the lands included in "Arevik" National
Park. "The river Meghri is one of the unique rivers in this region,
which does not dry up in summer. If the whole water is released into
the pipes of the HPPs, this will lead to destruction of the forest,
biodiversity and will also cause natural disasters", Manvelyan
stressed.
The expert stressed that the river Meghri flows near "Arevik" National
Park. "The forests were formed there over millenniums due to the
microclimate created by the river. There will no longer be such a
microclimate because of a few HPPs", Manvelyan said. He stressed that
the Nature Protection Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry gave a
negative assessment to the project of construction of the HPPs on the
river. However, this circumstance did not disturb the Government to
change the category of the lands.
Manvelyan also pointed out that the WWF negatively estimates such
decisions taken at the high level for the sake of business interests.
"It should not be so. It is necessary to take into account the opinions
of all the parties, including the public's opinion", he said.
Earlier EcoLur NGO reported that the project of construction of two
small HPPs on the river Meghri was worked out by Governor of Syunik
region Souren Khachatryan.