TREE-CUTTING WITHOUT EXAMINATION
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[06:01 pm] 25 January, 2007
The cut down grove between Aghayan 19 and Teryan 56 buildings hasn’t
undergone any ecological examination.
Under the acting law the territories of at least 1000 square meters
are subjected to examination. But the above-mentioned grove is only
512 square meters that’s why "it is not subjected to examination". The
answer of A. Santrosyan, head of "Ecological Examination" Department,
to Garegin Noushikyan, president of "Noushikyan Association" LTD
testifies to this phenomenon.
Reminder: on January 20, early in the morning "Noushikyan Association"
cut down over 20 trees for the construction of a hotel thus arousing
a wave of complaint in the neighborhood. The tree-cutters showed the
written permission of Vardan Ayvazyan, minister of Environment to
justify their step.
While talking with us, Romik Mangasaryan, head of the Yerevan regional
department, showed all the documents under which the activity of
"Noushikyan Association" is considered legal. "The Association is
the owner of the disputable area. In 2000 under the decision of
the Yerevan Municipality a bargain was made with the Noushikyan
Association" and in 2002 512-square-meter area was sold to them",
states Romik Mangasaryan. The letter of the association with warranted
facts addressed to the minister served as a ground to make the deal
legal and get the minister’s permission.
Under the given conditions the ministry couldn’t help denying. Our
rights are now limited though I must say that we denied the association
many times a few years ago. I am awfully sorry for the tree-cutting
of the grove as I live in the neighborhood and I have tried to combat
it myself. But it is already late; we must have taken measures before
the territory was put into auction", noted Mr. Mangasaryan.
By the way, the association is to plant more trees in return of the
cut down 20 ones. Mr. Mangasaryan added that at present the complaints
of the residents and their further actions are but a waste of time.