MOUSHAKAN VILLAGE "IS LOST" IN GARBAGE

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[12:51 pm] 05 December, 2006

"We haven’t got sewerage systems, there are no rubbish bans in the
village, the irrigation water is polluted. Besides, we rarely have
drinking water", claimed one of the inhabitants of the village of
Moushakan while complaining of the living conditions.

"The garbage and waste thrown into the streams is a real source of
infection, the hygienic conditions are poor and very often violated
but nobody takes any measures in this respect".

Moushakan has been inhabited since 1950 and it is only two km drive
from Yerevan. But civilization couldn’t overcome this short distance
and penetrate into the village which has got over 500 families.

The village hasn’t got common sewerage. Some of the village residents
have built sewage systems on their initiative directing the pipes to
the nearby gulf.

Others, who couldn’t afford such expenses, connected the pipes with
the stream, the water of which is used for garden watering. By the way,
while representing the problems the village encounters, the inhabitants
refrained from mentioning their names fearing further consequences.

"People throw the garbage and waste into the stream and the water flows
into our homes", says one of the villagers and adds, "We have turned
to the village head several times but nothing has been changed so far".

"We are frequently deprived of running water, especially in summer when
it is so important. And whenever we are lucky to have running water
we turn on the taps for half an hour as the water is mixed with sand".

When we tried to clear up the situation from the local company,
they only promised to see to the problem as soon as possible.

Alongside with the water problem, the village inhabitants face other
problems today. "Children have nowhere to play. There aren’t any
grounds, sports schools, cultural centers in the village. The streets
are full of heaps of litter which is dangerous to the health of both
children and adults," claims one of the inhabitants who is worried
about her children’s future well-being.

The inhabitants have so many problems that they have already forgotten
about the issue of the telephone.

Many of them haven’t even got telephones at homes; their applications
have been turned down on the ground that the telephone station is
under repair.