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INGA ZARAFYAN: MINING INDUSTRY HAS LEADING POSITIONS IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
by Karina Manukyan
Thursday, December 18, 15:55
Mining industry has leading positions in terms of environmental damage
in Armenia, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.
Zarafyans said that the mining companies receive "OK" despite the
obvious environmental risks and the resistance of public and experts.
He pointed out the example of the project of development of Meghrasar
gold deposit by AT Metals.
Earlier the environmentalists said that 60% of the deposit is located
in Arevik National Park. Zarafyan pointed out that the development
of the deposit will inflict a huge damage to the whole southern
part of the country. Nevertheless, AT Metals received a positive
environmental conclusion.
The provision of the status of a Biosphere Complex to a number of
protected areas in Southern Armenia was a big flaw in this matter.
The matter concerns Shikahogh reserve, Arevik National Park, Zangezur
and Khustup partial reserves, Plane-Tree Grove. All of them occupy
an area of about 60 thsd ha.
Each of these protected areas had its own clear boundaries. Having
become a part of the Biosphere Complex, all these areas lost their
legal status and the Complex has no boundaries of its own yet,
she said.
While the new projects of deposit development receive "a green light",
the problems related to the condition of the tailing dumps remain
unresolved. The law qualifies them as secondary technogenic deposits
and imposes no taxes on them. "Moreover, they have no passports and
they are registered nowhere with specific content and certain risks",
she said.
Zarafyan added that in the communities adjacent to the deposits, the
state does not survey the impact of the mines on human health. The
matter concerns first of Kajaran, Kapan, Alaverdi and Akhtala.
Earlier experts pointed out that nearly 450 deposits are being
developed in Armenia. They have also repeatedly pointed out the lack
of accurate methods of assessment of the mining industry impact on
the environment.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=24A197D0-86B5-11E4-A6670EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian
by Karina Manukyan
Thursday, December 18, 15:55
Mining industry has leading positions in terms of environmental damage
in Armenia, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.
Zarafyans said that the mining companies receive "OK" despite the
obvious environmental risks and the resistance of public and experts.
He pointed out the example of the project of development of Meghrasar
gold deposit by AT Metals.
Earlier the environmentalists said that 60% of the deposit is located
in Arevik National Park. Zarafyan pointed out that the development
of the deposit will inflict a huge damage to the whole southern
part of the country. Nevertheless, AT Metals received a positive
environmental conclusion.
The provision of the status of a Biosphere Complex to a number of
protected areas in Southern Armenia was a big flaw in this matter.
The matter concerns Shikahogh reserve, Arevik National Park, Zangezur
and Khustup partial reserves, Plane-Tree Grove. All of them occupy
an area of about 60 thsd ha.
Each of these protected areas had its own clear boundaries. Having
become a part of the Biosphere Complex, all these areas lost their
legal status and the Complex has no boundaries of its own yet,
she said.
While the new projects of deposit development receive "a green light",
the problems related to the condition of the tailing dumps remain
unresolved. The law qualifies them as secondary technogenic deposits
and imposes no taxes on them. "Moreover, they have no passports and
they are registered nowhere with specific content and certain risks",
she said.
Zarafyan added that in the communities adjacent to the deposits, the
state does not survey the impact of the mines on human health. The
matter concerns first of Kajaran, Kapan, Alaverdi and Akhtala.
Earlier experts pointed out that nearly 450 deposits are being
developed in Armenia. They have also repeatedly pointed out the lack
of accurate methods of assessment of the mining industry impact on
the environment.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=24A197D0-86B5-11E4-A6670EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian