Sara Petrosyan, Hetq
On 23 October 'Water Industry' PIU state institution held public hearings in Garni Village to discuss environmental and social impacts with the population. Garni residents, who rejected this program from the first day of its announcement, considering it as contradicting to the economic interests of Garni community and anti-environmental, don't see any sense in holding any discussions on this topic.
The residents were not even aware of the public hearings, so the organizers were surprised to see a hall full of people. 'Water Industry' PIU environmental expert Martiros Nalbandyan informed Garni Residents that they carried out measurements in the Azat River during 6 months, they recorded sufficient water amount in the river during the first three months, while the water amount drastically reduced during last three months, but after ensuring statutory 850 l/s water in the river, 400 l/s water is left in the river, so the program is feasible.
At the same time, it’s planned to introduce drop irrigation system in the interested villages in Artashat area so as to be able to supply water to the villages with the existing water amount.
Automatic management systems will be introduced, which will enable the villagers to watch the water amount taken from the river from home and to make it controllable.
Garni residents announced that they don’t trust the authorities and they don’t want to continue to listen what they were talking about.
This meeting also finished with drastic resistance and rejection of Garni residents.
Photo by Narek Aleksanyan
October 27, 2015 at 14:46