Akhtala Mayor Still Waiting for Environmental Ministry’s Response
Larisa Paremuzyan

hetq
11:15, May 11, 2011

Even though the tailings dam along the road leading to the Svinets
neighborhood in Akhtakla has been closed for the past two years, the
threat of the toxins washing into the Akhtala River and then into the
Debed River are real.

Due to the snow melt and recent heavy rains, the toxic wastes at the
dam have been moving from their original position.

The dam is not monitored nor is there any fencing around the
perimeter. Neither are there warning signs to ward off local
villagers.

When Hetq contacted Akhtala Mayor Hayk Khachikyan he said that the
problem facing the area wasn’t only the threat posed by the Svinets
tailings dam but the Metal Prince mining company’s tailings dam on the
road leading to the village of Pokr Ayrum.

Mayor Khachikyan said that he had sent a letter to the Ministry of the
Environment on March 15 but has yet to hear back from them.

From: Baghdasarian