11:55, 13 June 2019

Armenian villagers achieve HPP stop

An HPP on the Gegarot River. Photo by Samvel Pipoyan https://www.ecolur.org/ru/news/energy/vgegharotv-small-hpp-monitoring-results-photos/7521/

The environment protection agency has decided to suspend operation of two small hydropower plants (HPPs) on the Gegarot River. However, the plants have not yet been stopped; and local residents warn that they intend to force HPP bosses to stop the operation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 17, more than a hundred people blocked the traffic on the Yerevan-Vanadzor highway demanding to stop the above two HPPs. On June 6, about 300 villagers threatened to change the riverbed in order to stop the HPPs.

Back in 2015, Aragats villagers complained about the deterioration of water quality in the river and stated that it was caused by the operation of the small HPPs.

The decision to suspend the operation of two small HPPs on the Gegarot River was made on June 12 by the inspection body for the protection of nature and mineral resources for the Aragatsotn Region, said Naira Agagabyan, the spokesman for the environment protection agency.

A study of river water samples showed that the operation of the two HPPs affect the natural purification process of the Gegarot River, the decision says.

However, the HPP bosses have refused to fulfil the decision, said Arbak Gasparyan, a resident of village of Aragats. The situation in the village after the refusal to suspend the HPPs was tense, he has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 13, 2019 at 06:03 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan

Source: CK correspondent