“WE HAVE NO FATE BECAUSE OF THE GOLD UNDER OUR FEET”, SAY THE PEOPLE OF ARMANIS
Noyan Tapan
11.05.2011
(Noyan Tapan – 11.05.2011) It is already three years that in Armanis
village of Stepanavan district of Lori region blasting jobs are
carried out in the polymetallic mine to take out the gold.
As the president of the “Lore” Ecoclub Manya Melikjanyan noted during
the interview with the reporter of Noyan Tapan that the blasting
jobs damage the local landscape and in those places where there were
pastures, forests and endemic plants grew in the past, now there are
deep holes there. Besides, as there are also Uranium resources in the
mine of Armanis, a radiation is caused due to the landscape changes.
These jobs have resulted in the discontent of the residents of
Armanis, many of them are even not aware of the imminent danger
to their health. At the same time they noticed that cattle milking
capacity has reduced during the recent two years.
The way they neutralize the refuses of the explosions is another
danger for the nature and especially for the animal world. According
to M. Melikjanyan they are either buried or thrown to Dzoraget. In
the two cases the damage is tremendous: water resources and biosphere
are damaged.
The president of the Ecoclub also mentioned another important fact:
the absence of ecologists in the staff of the company which exploits
the mine. “Before the annihilation refuses should be checked by
ecologists, toxic materials and heavy metals should be dissevered in
order not to damage the nature”, said M. Melikjanyan.
The shakes and dust from blasts also concern the residents of Armenis,
because of which their houses turn into damaged structures. However,
as it turned out, this is the smallest evil only. Villagers are made
to sell their own lands, since, as the local residents say, “We have
no fate because of the gold under our feet”. Besides, the company
which exploits the mine offers a slight price for the land: 25000
AMD for square meter. Once one of the residents of Armanis refused
to sell his land and the owner of the mine ordered to dig the land
which surrounded him and the landlord couldn’t go out for a long time.
The goldmine of Armanis was discovered during the years of the Soviet
Union, but the local government, realizing that it might be disastrous
for the environment, prevented the exploitation. By the way, a factory
for gold recycling has worked since the beginning of 2011, which will
double the danger according to M. Melikjanyan.
Let’s mention that the reporter of Noyan Tapan and the president of
“Lore” Ecoclub tried to meet the head of the “Sagamar” Ltd which
exploits the mine to be informed about the possible solution to the
problems mentioned above, but the head refused every time and didn’t
answer the letters addressed to him.