Action against new HPP held in Armenia

On July 19, residents of the Gegarkunik Region of Armenia held a protest action against construction of a Hydraulic Power Plant (HPP) in their district. The protesters blocked the Yerevan-Martuni Highway demanding not to start the construction.

At the moment, preparation for HPP construction is underway near the Martuni River; however, since the river is full of fish, nearby villagers are afraid of a serious threat to spawning or fishes in general because of the project.

They insist that the HPP construction is illegal as a whole and will deprive the neighbouring villages of irrigation water. The participants of the action said that they were forced to start this form of protest, as all their letters addressed to President of Armenia, Prime Minister, Governor of Gegarkunik and other agencies remained without answer, the "Armenia Today" reports.

Another HPP is also a problem in the same region - the one built in Vaiotsdzor. Local residents assert that because of its operation in the future, the bed of the Argich River, which is the irrigation source of five villages of the Gegarkunik Region, should be changed, the "NEWS.am" writes.