Defenders of Trchkan waterfall in Armenia went on a sit-in strike

On the eve of a discussion of building a hydro-power station on Trchkan that will be held on October, 26, defenders of the greatest waterfall in Armenia held a sit-in near it.

"The participants of the action have now a "new address", i.e. Lori district, the settlement of Chichkhanadzor, the land of Trchkan, the highest waterfall in Armenia, on the right bank of the Chichkhan river", Mariam Sukhudyan, participant of the strike and activist of ecologic movement "Save Trchkan Fall", declared.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that the movement "Save Trchkan Fall" was holding actions in protection of the unique water memorial in order to stop building a hydro-power station near the fall. The ecologists are sure that the station will do a lot of harm to the fall and biodiversity of the territory.

On October, 24, residents of the neighbouring settlement joined the participants of the action by taking them to Trchkan in their own trucks.

As a sign of protest against building the station, the participants of the action covered with earth the pits dug by the builder near the fall and planted trees there. Local residents who also come out in opposition to the hydro-power station signed a letter in protection of Trchkan and declared that they would organize an exhibition devoted to the fall and invite officials to see it.

Trchkan fall is included into the Register of natural memorials of Armenia and according to the law "On Specially Safeguard Natural Reserves", any activities in the area dangerous for its maintenance are prohibited.

On October, 26, the issue of building the station will be discussed by the Government again. The defenders are going to live in tents near the fall until a decision that would satisfy the activists of the movement "Save Trchkan Fall" is adopted.