Nagorno-Karabakh: seven houses in Vardadzor resettled because of new mine

As reported by the bosses of the mining company "Base Metals", for the villagers of Vardadzor, whose houses get into the sanitary zone of a new mine, a new block of houses will be built. As to residents themselves, they still believe that in any case the mine will be ecologically harmful for the area.

The operation of the new Kashen (Tsakhkashen) deposit in Nagorno-Karabakh will start before 2015. Its influence on the environment will be assessed by the end of 2012. The "Vallex Group" – the parent company of the "Base Metals" – plans to invest about 80 million US dollars into development of the mine.

On March 19, the government of Nagorno-Karabakh and the "Vallex Group" signed an agreement about mining works in the Kashen deposit in the Martakert District. The new mine is located near the villages of Vardadzor, Chankatakh and Tsakhkashen, Martakert District and covers the area of 820 hectares.

The"Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Arthur Mkrtumyan, Director General of the mining company "Base Metals", that "seven houses in Vardadzor get into the sanitary zone of the Kashen mine and will be removed together with the tenants."

It is planned to build a new housing district within a year or a year and a half. "While in construction, residents will be moved into temporary housing facilities, now empty in Vardadzor, which will be repaired by the "Base Metals".