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  • Garni Residents Cite Environmental, Social Justice Reasons Why Oppos

    GARNI RESIDENTS CITE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL JUSTICE REASONS WHY OPPOSE WATER PIPE PROJECT

    07.11.2014 13:00 epress.am

    Residents of the village of Garni with a population of 10,000 are
    steadfast in not permitting water to be moved from the river that
    runs past their community, the Azat, through pipes to a few villages
    in Ararat marz (province) for use as irrigation water. The residents
    said this to an Epress.am correspondent who went to their village
    on Thursday.

    Representatives of an Armenian hydropower project yesterday morning
    went to Garni to hold public hearings and present the program to the
    community; however, the public hearings did not take place because
    the approximately 300 Garni residents didn't agree to them.

    Speaking to Epress.am, the villagers presented the grounds for their
    complaints. According to them, the program contravenes environmental
    and social justice norms and is drafted with violations of the law.

    Social Justice Issue

    Garni residents are convinced the main reason for construction of the
    water pipe is to support Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan's
    business. One of the villagers, who wished to remain anonymous,
    said the mayor of the village of Narek in Ararat marz established
    a 600-hectare orchard, and the water pipe is constructed to provide
    cheap irrigation water (without the use of pumps).

    "He's not taking [the water] for an Ararat villager but for him. If we
    knew that people's orchards were going to be irrigated, we'd say, the
    hell with it. But we know that the decision was made for his property.

    For his fish farms, his orchards. While our fields -- there are
    about 40 farming households at the river shore... we've all nursed
    our trees like a child; they'll dry up in a day," he said.

    Hamlet Harutyunyan, who established orchards at the river shore,
    added that apart from those two goals, the prime minister is trying
    to do one other thing. "He wants to build a hydropower plant. Yes,
    he'll take cheap water, but he wouldn't assume so many expenses just
    for that. After all, an approximately 30-km pipe has to be built. This
    is being done to build a few hydropower plants," he said.

    Environmental Concerns

    According to the project presented by the Armenian hydropower project
    representatives, a pipe measuring 820 cm in diameter is to be built
    along the length of the river, which will transport water for two
    months in the summer to several villages in Ararat marz. Hamlet
    Harutyunyan said that the flow of the river is powerful only in the
    spring, while in the summer, the river carries only 1,200 liters of
    water per second.

    "With a 820 cm-[diameter] pipe, 1,000-1,200 liters will flow; that
    is, it will lead to the river drying up. And that will lead to the
    trees growing on the mountains around the river drying up. What will
    happen to the fish? In this river, there are Beghlu, Karmrakhayt,
    and Koghak; we pour in Ishkhan. It's obvious, those fish will die,"
    said Harutyunyan.

    Legislative Arena

    Garni residents said their community, as well as the village of Goght,
    oppose the project, and since they're the affected community, the
    project cannot be implemented.

    "When they cut off a branch from a tree, to get warm, when they catch
    a fish, people are subject to criminal accountability, whereas in this
    case, a forest will be destroyed, and the fauna of the river," he said.

    Hamlet Harutyunyan said that they bid adieu to the 7-person delegation,
    urging them to retract their decision.

    After the Yerevan delegation left, the residents convened a meeting
    and decided their next steps.

    "If the government insists that it will take the water, we've decided
    to block the touristic road to Garni and Geghard. A Garni native will
    not stand against anything. Second, we will go to Yerevan by foot. Our
    neighboring Goght community also will join," said the other villager.

    According to him, this project, in fact, should concern also the
    villagers of Ararat marz, since taken will be the water that goes to
    Zovashen Lake, which nourishes 12 communities.

    "Let [him] take water from Arax [River], put in a few pumps. [He]
    takes our water, irrigates, then fills Arax, which goes where? To
    the Turks," said Harutyunyan.

    http://www.epress.am/en/2014/07/11/garni-residents-cite-environmental-social-justice-reasons-why-oppose-water-pipe-project.html




    From: A. Papazian
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