In Sochi, participants of public hearings find project of mountain cableway harmful for city environment

The project of reconstruction of the alpine cableway "Psekhako-D", prepared by Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Gazprom Sotsinvest", can contaminate sources of drinking water of the city of Sochi and inflict damage to specially protected areas of the National Park and the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve. This was reported by participants of the public hearings held in Adler.

The cableway "Psekhako-D" is expected to be of more than one-kilometre length in headstreams of the Mzymta and Psou Rivers.

The project may result in contamination of Sochi natural water reservoirs, originating from glaciers of the Main Caucasian Ridge at an altitude of almost 3000 meters above sea level, and cause irreparable damage to drinking water resources. This was stated by the participants of the public hearing.

Ecologist Vladimir Kimaev has emphasized that the assessment of the environmental impact of the project does not take into account the fact that the works will affect the ecology of protected areas, in particular, hazardous soils with high content of mercury.

Yulia Naberezhnaya, a participant of the public hearings, has expressed her concern over the fate of remains of the Achipse Fortress, an archaeological site.

Olga Kozinskaya, the chair of the Public Urban Council of Sochi, has recommended finalizing the project taking into account the requirements of environmental laws.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.