Ecologists of Armenia held an action of protest against building a hydropower station at the waterfall of Trchkan

On September, 8, an action of protest passed off in front of the building of Armenian Government with the demand to stop construction of small hydropower station at the waterfall of Trchkan.

The waterfall of Trchkan, one of the sights of the village of Metz Parni, Lori district, may cease to exist because a hydropower station will be built at the river upon the decision of the Government. Construction works have already started at the object and the developers are going to change the course of the Chichkhan river, the participants of the action declared.

"This waterfall is the second highest one in Armenia and is currently used in private interests", ecologist Mariam Sukhudyan said adding that construction of the hydropower station jeopardized the existence of both the waterfall and local environment. 

The participants of the action reminded that the waterfall of Trchkan had been acknowledged a natural monument by the decision of the Government and the legislation of the country prohibited any kind of construction works in the territory of a natural monument, "Mediamax" agency reports.

Ecologist Apres Zograbyan said that they had already appealed to the Ministry of Environmental Protection whose research group had to study the question, yet no answer followed.

Taniel Arshakuni, resident of the village of Metz Parni, joined the participants of the action. He informed that the villagers received the news of building the hydropower station at the Chichkhan river from their Chairman Grair Yagubyan who told them that a contract with a construction company had already been concluded. He also said that the waterfall would function only in the summer months, "A1Plus" reports.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that the population of the town of Megri opposed to the change the course of the Megri river connected with construction of a hydropower station complex.