In Armenia, ecologists demand to stop construction of minor HPP on Trchkan Waterfall

In Armenia, the ecological organizations express their concern about the fate of the most abundant Trchkan Falls situated on the border of Shirak and Lori Regions. The ecologists demand that the Ministry of Nature Protection should stop the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant (HPP) there.

According to Armen Vermishyan, a representative of the civil initiative "Let's Preserve Trchkan Waterfall", the existence of the falls is under threat. He reported that the developer of the HPP - the LLC (Limited Liability Company) "Robshin" - had received a license from the Ministry of Nature Protection and was building a small HPP with power of 1050 kW in the territory of the Trchkan Waterfall, near channel of the Chichkhan River.

"The Trchkan Waterfall is the highest and the most abundant waterfall in Armenia; it was recognized as a specially protected natural area. No matter how much water will be taken away from the waterfall by the hydroelectric power plant, since, in any case, a natural part of this monument of nature - water - will suffer," Armen Vermishyan told the journalists.

He also emphasized that community of two northern regions of Armenia and more than a dozen of public organizations that have recently joined under the civil initiative "Let's Preserve Trchkan Waterfall", are concerned about the fact that as a result of the construction of the HPP, the channel of the river will be changed. According to Armen Vermishyan, this will cause significant harm to the waterfall and the biodiversity of the area.

"We have presented to the Ministry of Nature Protection those points of the Law" On Specially Protected Areas", which had been violated by the ecological expertise of the Ministry. In particular, the legal acts were issued, and the violations were committed on the basis of that acts. We demand this examination to be declared invalid and the construction programme of the small HPP to be reconsidered," Armen Vermishyan stated.

The permission to use water, issued by the Ministry, was a preliminary one. This was reported by Arutyun Arutyunyan, the representative of the agency for water resources management of the Ministry of Nature Protection, in response to the claims of the ecologists.

"As far as the permission for construction of the HPP is concerned, it was only a decision of the Council of Elders of the commune of Mets Parni of Lori region. Now it appears that, on the one hand, there is a specially protected natural area, and, on the other hand, a businessman who has all legal documents for the construction of the HPP. The aim of the Ministry of Nature Protection is to reduce the harm that could be inflicted to nature to a minimum," Arutyun Arutyunyan said.

In September, more than 20 public organizations of the Shirak Region appealed with an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Nature Protection. The letter notes that the Trchkan Waterfall is included in the register of the monuments of Armenian nature, and, according to the law "On Specially Protected Natural Areas", any activity that threatens the survival of the monument is prohibited in the area of its location.

Furthermore, representatives of the public organizations, including NGOs "We won't keep silence", "Ecolur", the journalistic club "Asparez", "For Sustainable Human Development" and other NGOs, held an outstanding protest action near the government building, demanding to cancel the programme of the construction of the small HPP at the Trchkan Waterfall.

After these actions, Aram Arutyunyan, Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia, called a meeting, in the course of which he proposed the developer - the Company "Robshin" - to stop all works for 10 days and to submit proposals that would ensure preservation of the Trchkan Waterfall.

According to the initiative "Let's Preserve Trchkan Waterfall", in recent days, technical equipment was delivered to the waterfall and the construction works began.

The information about beginning of the construction at the waterfall was confirmed by Asmik Mkrtchyan, Press Secretary of the Minister of Nature Protection. According to her, the Company "Robshin" - the developer - has all documents for the works.

"Recently, the Minister visited the Trchkan Waterfall, examined the situation and came to the conclusion that, in any case, this marvel of nature should be preserved. That is, the HPP will be built; however, it should not harm the waterfall. In this case, the strict control will be established. In the summer, when water stream becomes less abundant, the HPP will not work, and it will work in the high water season," the Press Secretary stated.

In response, the representatives of the initiative declared that they would continue their struggle to cancel the programme of the construction of the small HPP at the Trchkan Waterfall.