NEW BILL PROPOSES TO SOLVE HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FEES
18:49 February 10, 2015
EcoLur
Ara Babloyan, head of RA National Assembly Standing Committee on
Health Care, Maternity and Childhood, made a proposal to direct the
environmental fees to solve the health problems caused by environmental
pollution. On 15 January the Armenian Government approved draft law
“On making amendments and supplements” to RA Law “On Targeted Use of
Environmental Fees Paid by Companies” authored by Ara Babloyan. The
draft law has been submitted to the National Assembly.
Under the law, the following companies make environmental fees:
“Manes ev Valeks”, “Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine”,
“Agarak Copper and Molybdenum Combine”, “Kapan Ore Dressing Combine”,
“Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine”, “Araratcement” CJSC, “Hrazdancement”
LLC and “Dzulakentron” public company in Charentsavan.
In 2013 due to the environmental fees paid by these companies 11
communities of Armenia received subventions of 321.7 million AMD from
the state budget. Nevertheless, as the substantiation of the draft
law says, these funds were spent on asphalting roads, reconstruction
of playing grounds etc because of absence of specifications in the law.
The draft law proposes the following actions:
– regular medical checkups and screenings of the population in
regard with the adversary effect of the environmental pollution,
buying relevant equipment and other property,
– implementation of disease treatment programs among community
residents conditioned with the environmental pollution,
– implementation of preventative measures, including implementation of
study programs to reduce the hazardous consequences of environmental
pollution,
– development and provisions of special diet to vulnerable groups in
communities conditioned with environmental pollution.”