EcoLur
Vernashen, Gladzor and Getap communities will be merged due to community optimization project. The local government elections of enlargened Gladzor community are to be held on 5 November 2017. The community head candidates are the current Gladzor Community Head Armen Movsisyan, not adhering to any political party, and Gagik Smbatyan, Head of 'Araks' Branch of 'Electric Networks of Armenia' CJSC, who also doesn't adhere to any political party.
Vernashen residents are concerned that after the elections 'Vayq Metal' Company will again takes measures for the development of Gladzor polymetallic mine by having allies in the new Aldermen's Council. Gladzor enlargened community with 4710 voters will have an Aldermen's Council consisting of 11 members. 'There should be an Aldermen's Council of 11 members and if 6 of them vote against the mining, then the community will be smart, if not, then it is violence,' Vernashen resident Gegham Margaryan said in his interview with EcoLur.
'Two places were constructed in 2016 in our rural area with the surface of 600 m2, which includes a room for a herd, a rest room etc. Another project was approved in the area called Koreki Gorge, which is also adjacent to Gladzor mine area...A reservoir shall be constructed 800 meters down, where around 3.5-4 million m3 should be accumulated and which will irrigate 800-100 ha of plow land areas, which are currently arid. The water coming from Hanqasar and snow-melting water will be accumulated here... Large investments reaching up to 100 million AMD and all our efforts will be in vain, if the mine is developed...' Vernashen resident Gegham Margaryan said in his interview with EcoLur.
'With the support of the government, we are going to establish a cooperative of pasture users and aim to develop cattle breeding in the area. Currently, the number of livestock is low in the community, while the community uses only 12-20% of its pastures. Mining is the destruction of Vayots Dzor Region. Here there are very dangerous resources, which will pollute both the air and the water. But the areas here enable having ecologically clean dairy products, agroproducts, fruit, and vegetables. Two previous places were constructed in the right and left wings, but currently the new one will be constructed in the center, which will operate in the spring of 2018,' Harutyun Gevorgyan, Chairman of Vernashen Pasture Users Cooperative, said.
Gladzor mine surroundings are also rich in cultural and historical monuments. As Vernashen residents claim, there is an increase in the number of tourists observed. If the mine is developed, the number of tourists will decrease.
October 31, 2017 at 18:51