ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGAIN WARN OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY MINES
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
21.06.11 | 13:54
Armenian environmentalists continue to issue warnings about possible
ecological consequences of the use of iron mines, such as those
situated in Abovyan, Hrazdan and Svarants. They sent letters to this
effect to a number of senior officials in Armenia, but haven’t heard
from them yet.
Development of a total of about 500 mines in Armenia accounts for
only 3-4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, while the
damage caused by them is incomparably higher, argue environmentalists.
“The actual recycled material, that is metal, that goes for export or
is used otherwise makes only 0.7-0.8 percent, while about 99 percent
is the waste, that is the tailings that remain in nature poisoning
the environment,” says head of the Association “For Sustainable
Human Development” NGO Karine Danielyan, who adds that 98 percent
of industrial waste in Armenia originates in the southern Syunik
province, while Lori in the north of the country accounts for 2
percent of wastes.
Specialists remind that mining, agriculture and tourism that all are
considered to be priority sectors for development in Armenia are
incompatible, since air pollution caused by mining is unfavorable
for either agriculture or tourism.
Ruben Yadoyan, a candidate of geological-mineralogical sciences,
says that the mines in Hrazdan and Abovyan will have a direct effect
on Armenia’s fresh drinking water.
Among other things specialists suggest setting up manufactures working
on the basis of minerals rather than export them, so as to stop being
a mining adjunct, as well as using 15 tailings depots as material
resources, something that they contend modern technologies allow to do.
Still a month ago joint letters consisting of several points were sent
by experts and a dozen NGOs to Armenia’s president, prime minister
and parliament speaker. The officials forwarded the letters to the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, but environmentalists say
no reply has been received from there yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2011/06/22/environmentalists-again-warn-of-damage-caused-by-mines/
